Culture minister opens UNESCO’s heritage committee session in Riyadh

Culture minister opens UNESCO’s heritage committee session in Riyadh

RIYADH: Economies squander a wealth of talent and experience when they deny women the same opportunities as men to study, work, start businesses, and rise to positions of leadership. That is why the G20 has made women’s empowerment a key feature of its program.

During its presidency of the Group of 20 largest economies, India assumed leadership of the G20 Empower Alliance, an initiative devoted to advancing reforms related to women’s social and economic rights and their inclusion in top decision making.

Such reforms range from enhancing financial inclusion, expanding opportunities for quality and gainful employment, fostering education and skills development, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and promoting women’s leadership.

“The remarkable work undertaken by the G20 Empower Alliance empowers women to confront future challenges through avenues such as economic empowerment, digital inclusion, gender equality, education and training, especially in STEM fields, and networking and mentorship,” Sheila Al-Rowaily, vice president of the private sector delegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, told Arab News on the fringes of the G20 leaders’ summit in New Delhi.

Sheila Al-Rowaily, vice president of the Saudi private sector delegation to the G20 summit in New Delhi. (Supplied)

Al-Rowaily was last year appointed as the first woman in