On the 22nd of December, 2021, the UNFPA GCC office, and the Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) of UAE organized a panel discussion on the "Success Stories of Pioneering Women in the GCC" at the UN Hub, UAE EXPO 2020. The panel event addressed the gender equality and women empowerment (GEWE) progress and the relevant pertaining strategies and national plans in GCC countries. It also discussed the achievements, challenges, and aspirations of the women leaders in the region, including the social, economic, and legal enablers, and the mechanisms to address gender-based violence and the issues related to their SRH&Rs. The panel was formed of several empowered women leaders coming from all GCC countries, who come from government or civil society background. The panelists highlighted the important legal and social transformations that have occurred in their countries in the last decade, as well as the best practices that other governments in the region may adopt to further empower women. The event also discussed the increase in the gender-based violence in general, which has been one of the negative impacts of COVID-19, and the mechanisms to eliminate violence against women as one of the important indicators of SDG5 on gender equality.
