By Bernama,
Abu Dhabi : President Giorgio Napolitano of Italy has conferred the Order of Merit, Italy’s highest award, on Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Family Development Foundation.
Emirates News Agency, WAM, reported Monday that Tala Slim Dionsisi, the Italian Ambassador’s wife, decorated Sheikha Fatima with the order in a ceremony held Sunday at Qasr Al Bahr.
The ceremony was attended by Sheikha Shamsa bin Hamdan, wife of Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikha Al Yaziah bint Saif, wife of Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Mariam Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs and Maitha Al Shamsi, Minister of State.
Dionsisi conveyed to Sheikha Fatima greetings of the Italian President who also extended an invitation to her to visit Italy.
“I am honoured to decorate Her Highness Sheikha Fatima with Italy’s highest order, an honour given to those who made remarkable contributions to humanity. I believe everyone knows about the unique role Sheikha Fatima has been playing in advancing women’s issues both locally and internationally,” she said.
“Her Highness Sheikha Fatima has devoted a great time and effort to improve women’s conditions. She was awarded that honour in recognition of her incalculable contributions.” Dionsisi referred to the several awards received by Sheikha Fatima, including honours by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Populations and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Sheikha Fatima is also the chairperson of the Cairo-based Arab Women’s Organisation (AWO).
Meanwhile, Sheikha Fatima received women members of the judicial corps; Judge Khulood Ahmed bin Jawan Al Dhaheri, general prosecutors Alia Saeed Mohammed Al Kaabi and Atiqa Aawad Abdul Aziz Al Kuthairi, and Marriage Registrar Fatima Al Awani.
She congratulated them on the confidence conferred on them by the country’s leadership and wished them success.