Dubai Forum to empower Female leaders promoting peace

By Manel Msalmi

On November 15th-16th a big forum was organised in Dubai on the eve of the international Day of Tolerance in UAE, a country which was one of the architects of the peace agreements and the Abraham Accords and the one which launched the initiative of The national Tolerance Day.

The two-day multifaith event, which was organised by the Abraham Women’s Alliance and Empower Women Media, promotes Female leaders’ engagement and contribution to peace and dialogue to promote the Abraham Accords.

Foto: privat

The Dubai Forum, which took place from November 15–16, brought together 65 influential and inspiring women committed o continue the work of the Abraham Accords and raise awareness of the advantages of cooperation between the Abrahamic religions and beyond. Big Human rights organisations sponsored the event mainly Global Christian Relief, Women’s Choice, and the Combat Antisemitism Movement.

The media and panels discussed the need to establish mutual understanding and coexistence at the workplace and focus on the voices of women who work for peace and Brotherhood. Jewish, Muslim, and Christian women influencers were present in Dubai’s first-ever civil society-led interfaith event.

As a keynote speaker, Marcy Grossman, Ambassador of Canada to the United Arab Emirates, took part. It was the first initiative to call for peace in the Middle East after October 7th attacks and the only event which gathered female leaders from the USA and the Middle-East .

Manel Msalmi, human rights activist and Peace Ambassador brings the EU perspective. Manel Msalmi was the only participant from the EU who was invited as a speaker and expert on peace and security to give her thoughts on how religious freedom and freedom of belief is important to promote peace and security.

She highlighted her experience as a human rights activist in Brussels who advocates for minorities rights and women’s rights in Europe and beyond and how the post October 7th attacks witnessed the rise of Antisemitism in Europe and in the Middle East and the need to work together to end discrimination and violence at the workplace but also to educate the future generations the principles of tolerance, brotherhood and freedom of religion and speech.

Foto: privat

Awards to enhance female leadership and peace-building in the workplace the event, which featured a tour of the Abrahamic Family House, the Louvre, and the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque, was attended by leaders from the government, academia, business, media, and non-governmental organisations.

A certificate of interfaith training for the workplace was also given to the attendees. Shirin Taber and Astrid Hajjar formed the Abraham Women’s Alliance (AWA) which organised the first gathering to address the threats of hate speech and religious violence in the US and the Middle East, bringing together students, government officials, and non-governmental organisations one month after the October 7 assaults.