Delegation: United Arab Emirates
Body: Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee
The issue of parental leave
With an ever-increasing number of women entering the workforce, maternity leave has been the centre of discussion may times. More recently, however, paternity leave has also been garnering attention – thus the issue of parental leave as a whole. Convention No. 183 of the ILO declared that women shall be provided a maternity benefit for 14 weeks and shall the entitled to a cash benefit no less than two-thirds of her previous earnings to ensure that they are able to maintain themselves as well as their child in proper conditions.
In the UAE, women working in the public sector re guaranteed a 90-day maternity leave, with women in the private sector being entitled to a fully paid 45 days if she has completed a continuous year of service, and a half paid 45-day leave if they have not. Should any complications occur during pregnancy, the mother is free to take up to 100 consecutive days of unpaid leave.
Fathers are eligible for a fully paid 3-day paternity leave in the public sector. Private companies are free to establish their own paternal leave policies; thus, they may differ from each other vastly. Recently, however, a new paternity leave law was being drafted in order to equalise the father’s parenting role in the family.
The United Arab Emirates believes that balance in the home life is of utmost importance to the happiness of the family, and thus continues to strive for providing better conditions for new parents.
Delegation: United Arab Emirates
Body: Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee
Overweight and obesity epidemic in developing countries
Perhaps one of the greatest public health concerns of our time is obesity as it continues to grow and pose a more and more serious and seemingly uncontrollable problem in societies worldwide. One might think that it is only prevalent in developed nations, but in fact, the rate at which obesity is growing in developing countries is now higher than in developed ones.
One of the key factors is urbanization – as people move into cities and suddenly stop altogether with physical labour while still eating the same diet, they inevitably start gaining weight. But with cities come fast food restaurants and other such sources of unhealthy foods. As they tend to be available at relatively low prices, people will naturally gravitate toward them as in more cases than not their wages are far from high. This, however, results in a diet comprised largely of heavily processed foods. This effect, along with the aforementioned decline in physical activity and genetic factors often results in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other noncommunicable diseases, thus putting – in most cases already underfunded – health services under severe strain.
The United Arab Emirates believes that the first step shall be implementation of various new policies in order to encourage and facilitate health-awareness among the general public, and to integrate it in people’s lives from an early age. Such actions, aided by worldwide cooperation, shall hopefully prove effective in resolving this issue.
Delegation: United Arab Emirates
Body: Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee
The problem of ageing societies
Around the world, ageing societies have been posing serious problems for decades, and the tendency seems unlikely to stop. Population ageing is quickly becoming one of the most significant social transformations of the century, and its effects can be felt in all areas of society. According to World Population Prospects: the 2017 Revision, around 13% of the global population was aged 60 or over, and their number is expected to triple by 2100. While the problem is currently the most prominent in Europe, rapid ageing will occur in other parts of the world too. The United Nations has already made several steps in order to resolve this issue – such as the first World Assembly on Ageing in 1982, or most recently the Second World Assembly on Ageing in 2002. They aim to ensure supportive and enabling environments, as well as advancing health and well-being into old age.
Although currently the United Arab Emirates is not facing ageing at such serious levels, the number of persons over the age of 60 is growing rapidly. While in the past, great pride was taken in caring for elders, nowadays it is becoming harder and harder to manage due to a lack of time, or lack of skill, should a relative suffer from a geriatric disorder. Until now, geriatric care was not prioritised as the average age was around 30, but with rapidly rising life expectancy the expansion thereof shall be expected. At present, primary healthcare alongside social, psychological, and physical therapy is provided to all nationals from the age of 60 at the Elderly Care Centre or through their home care programme. Red Crescent Authority also offers various programmes and activities for elders, along with educational events such as field visits to elderly care homes.
The United Arab Emirates strongly believes that through the establishment of far-reaching social and economic policies as well as international cooperation it is entirely possible to resolve this issue.