MUSCAT — Women have surpassed men in the education index across all GCC countries, with the female-to-male ratio in university education reaching approximately 59 percent, said GCC Secretary General Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi referring to the latest statistics.
“In the GCC, the number of women graduates is double that of men. Furthermore, women’s empowerment—reflected in the percentage of women in parliament, senior positions, and company boards, as well as the comparison of women’s annual income to men’s—has shown significant growth,” he added.
Albudaiwi made these remarks during the women’s affairs meeting on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The event, held under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Development of the Sultanate of Oman, took place in Muscat, the Omani capital.
The meeting was chaired by Maani bint Abdullah bin Hamad Al Busaidi, the Director General of Family Development at the Ministry of Social Development of the Sultanate of Oman, who is also the chairperson for this session.
معالي الأمين العام:المرأة الخليجية قدمت إنجازات كبيرة وشاركت في تحقيق الازدهار والتنمية، والمساهمة العظيمة في خدمة ورقي المجتمع عبر التاريخ، فثقافة دول الخليج وتاريخه مليء بإنجازاتها وعطائها، ولها دور محوري في كافة المجالاتhttps://t.co/jksImEcWBT#خليجنا_خير_وسلام#مجلس_التعاون pic.twitter.com/WDkjxGV9XX
— مجلس التعاون (@GCCSG) May 16, 2023
Albudaiwi emphasized that the inaugural meeting of the GCC Standing Committee for Women’s Affairs will play a pivotal role in highlighting the significant contributions made by women in member countries.
He also indicated that the meeting would strive to coordinate the positions and efforts of the GCC countries in international forums and conferences dedicated to women’s issues, and underscore the policies, regulations, and laws supporting women across various sectors.
Concluding his speech, Albudaiwi stressed that the GCC countries are committed to enhancing the status and competence of women, and providing support to ensure their active participation in all fields, whether at local, regional, or international levels.
