The United Arab Emirates reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to achieving gender equality and advancing the role of women at the 65th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Hessa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, delivered the statement on behalf of the UAE at the general discussion via a recorded message, noting that the UAE’s efforts include the campaign to eliminate all forms of violence against women and the protection of women’s rights. She underlined the prominent role played by women in the UAE’s leadership ranks and at the frontline of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “As the Minister of Community Development, I recruited more than 600,000 volunteers. About 53 percent of them are women to help address the pandemic,” she said. Minister Buhumaid highlighted recent legislative amendments made as part of national efforts to eliminate violence against women and protect their rights. She referred to the…