Media Center

Doha / Information Office / March 08  

The Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the United Kingdom Embassy to the State of Qatar, in the framework of celebrating International Women's Day, organized a seminar on "Empowering women in the political and diplomatic field," to increase awareness of the important roles that women can play during their work in the political and diplomatic fields.

The virtual seminar was chaired by Acting Director of the UN Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region in Doha Ahmed Motala with the participation of HE Acting Director of Department of Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, HE Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the State of Qatar Jon Wilks, HE Member of the Shura Council Dr. Hend bint Abd Al Rahman Al Muftah, HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN in New York Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, HE Gender Team Leader at the Regional Office for Arab States of the United Nations Development Program Frances Guy, HE the UK Special Envoy for Gender Equality Alicia Herbert, HE Director of the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al Horr, HE Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan to the State of Qatar Abd Al Rahim Al Siddig Mohammed, Secretary of National Committee for the Affairs of Woman, Children, the Elderly and People with Disabilities Huda Al Kuwari, and Director of the Family Affairs Department at the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs Najat Al Abdullah.

In his speech during the seminar, HE Acting Director of Department of Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud said that the State of Qatar affirmed its keenness to empower women and provide the support and environment that would enhance their political, civil, social, economic and cultural rights, that was reflected in the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategies (the first 2011-2016 and the second 2018-2022).

He stressed that the national legislations issued during recent years reflected the increasing interest of the State of Qatar in promoting and protecting the rights of women, eliminating gender discrimination, and establishing equality rules between both genders in various fields, indicating that the State of Qatar continues its legislative and institutional efforts and at the level of strategies necessary to support and enhance the role of women in all fields.

HE Al Mahmoud pointed to the Amiri Decision No. (22) of 2017, according to which four women joined the membership of the Shura Council, adding that the number of Qatari women in joining the judiciary, the public prosecution, and the diplomatic corps has doubled. He also noted the Amiri Decision No. 56 of 2019 appointing the first woman to hold the position of Assistant Foreign Minister in addition to her duties as the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the context of strengthening the institutional structure related to women's rights, HE Al Mahmoud noted the establishment of the Family Affairs Department at the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs, to consecrate the principle of the necessity of a supreme national government agency concerned with the family and in particular women, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.

He explained that there are several civil society organizations in the State of Qatar, such as the Qatar Foundation for Social Work, which was established in 2013, as a supreme institution that, through a unified board of directors, supervises and monitors the institutions and centers concerned with social work in the country, which include: the Social Protection and Rehabilitation Center, the Family Consulting Center, the Orphanage Care Center, the Empowering and Caring for the Elderly Center, the Shafallah Center for Persons with Disabilities, the Nama Center, and the Best Buddies Initiative - Qatar.

Among the mandate and terms of reference of the Foundation is the preparation and development of plans, programs, policies, and strategies necessary to achieve the goals of civil society institutions and follow up their implementation, in cooperation and coordination with ministries, government agencies, public and private bodies and institutions at home and abroad, he added.

HE Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud said that that the institutional efforts culminated in the issuance of Cabinet Resolution No. (26) of 2019 establishing the National Committee for the Affairs of Woman, Children, the Elderly and People with Disabilities, which comes within the framework of compliance with the recommendations of the monitoring committees to establish an independent central governmental mechanism concerned with the rights of women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities. The committee was formed under the chairmanship of the Minister of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs, and the membership of various government agencies, in addition to civil society organizations and the National Human Rights Committee.

HE Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud reiterated the keenness of the State of Qatar on implementing its obligations in the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and its full cooperation with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and other UN and regional mechanisms.

He indicated that the attention paid by the State of Qatar to empowering women has gone beyond national frameworks. For example, the State launched many initiatives at the regional and international level, such as the Silatech foundation which has contributed to providing job opportunities for nearly one million young men and women since its inception in 2008, and providing two million jobs until 2020 within the Arab world; in addition to the Education Above All Foundation, which is a global initiative that includes four international programs, namely: Educate a Child, Al-Fakhoora, Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict and Reach Out to Asia which works to ensure that children have access to education.

He added that the State of Qatar also supported the Charlevoix Declaration on Quality Education for Girls, and pledged to provide education to one million girls by 2021.

HE Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud emphasized Qatar's active role at the international level in the field of empowering women and promoting and protecting their rights. For instant, the State provided financial support for many international initiatives in this regard, including the $90,000 support for the main resources of the Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women; the $100,000 financial support for the Global Study on Women, Peace and Security and the publication of the book "HERstory" which documents the contributions of women leaders in the United Nations to the promotion of security and peace efforts, within the framework of the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

In this context, HE highlighted the State of Qatar's donation of $30 million to the Global Financing Facility over five years from 2019 to 2023, as this initiative aims to improve the health and nutrition of women, children and adolescents in developing countries, in line with the Third Goal of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

He underlined that the State of Qatar will continue its efforts aimed at empowering women at all national, regional and international levels, and said that organizing this symposium confirms the effective and fruitful cooperation between the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UK Embassy to Qatar, looking forward to further cooperation and coordination in order to better protect human rights.

For his part, HE Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the State of Qatar Jonathan Wilks said that the State of Qatar has been witnessing a remarkable and continuous transformation driven by its economic growth, which has led to a significant improvement in the quality of life.

He reiterated the assertion of HE Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud on Qatar's unequivocal commitment to empowering women and girls, and the advanced fulfillment of their political, civil, social, economic and cultural rights in accordance with local and international law.

He stressed the great significance of conscious investment in women and girls by the government, which is confirmed by the strong evidence and experience presented by organizations like the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.

HE the Ambassador noted the importance of supporting women's efforts to enter non-traditional career paths, such as politics and diplomacy, adding that the State of Qatar plays a major role in the world as a mediator and humanitarian supporter, and the UK shares with it goals related to the priorities of women, peace and security, for example in Afghanistan.

He noted that the State of Qatar should be proud of women such as HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani, and HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, as they do not only shape their own paths and professions, but also inspire future generations of women and girls to enter the public life.

He indicated that the State of Qatar has demonstrated its constitutional commitment to gender equality as stipulated in Article 35 that all persons are equal before the law, and there will be no discrimination whatsoever on the basis of gender, race, language or religion.

HE the Ambassador added that the Shura Council elections will be held this year are yet another pivotal opportunity to support more women's participation in Qatar's political and public life.

HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani underlined that the State of Qatar comes at the forefront in terms of adopting proactive and highly innovative diplomacy under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

She said that the State of Qatar is also a major partner in international forums as it works to promote peace and stability, assist countries facing fragile situations, and promote and protect human rights, stressing that the interests of women and girls have always come at the forefront of the State's efforts.

In a recorded speech to the symposium, HE Sheikha Alya Al-Thani valued the traditional public diplomacy, but recognized that other types of diplomacy, such as cultural, educational and sports diplomacy, are essential to promoting sustainable development, peace and stability around the world, and preserving the national interests.

She underlined that Qatari women have always been at the forefront of Qatar's innovative and transformative diplomacy. HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser represents a facade of Qatar's commitment to education. HH Sheikha Moza has led pioneering social education initiatives around the world, and nobody can talk about education without referring to Her Highness.

HE Sheikha Alya said that Qatar Foundation, Education Above All and Silatech have helped promote Qatar's foreign policy objectives with regard to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Chairperson of Qatar Museums, Doha Film Institute and Reach Out to Asia, has promoted the importance of art and diplomacy, and placed Qatar at the forefront of cultural diplomacy.

She noted that Qatar now owns a cultural institution that looks abroad and focuses on the future, and there are many great examples of pioneering Qatari women who have played a role in promoting this mission by carrying out roles in the United Nations and working as members of international human rights bodies such as the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. These appointments reflect the extent of the international communitys confidence in Qatar and its role in protecting and promoting human rights.

With regard to the diplomatic corps in the State of Qatar, HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani expressed pride of the extent of Qatar's progress in the field of empowering women to join the diplomatic corps. She expressed pride to be the first woman to be appointed to a diplomatic mission abroad in June 2007 at the permanent mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations in New York during the country's membership in the UN Security Council, and then serving the country as an ambassador in both Geneva and New York.

She noted that 195 female diplomats are working at different levels in the diplomatic corps, thanks to the leadership of the State of Qatar and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which represents more than 30 percent of the total diplomatic workforce.

She referred to HE Assistant Foreign Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater and three Qatari women working as ambassadors abroad, noting that it is not just a matter of numbers, but also of being effective in accomplishing the ministry's mission and the goals of the country's foreign policy.

HE Sheikha Alya Al-Thani said that it is a great honor to represent the country in the United Nations platforms, in addition to playing essential roles in a number of processes that demonstrate the strong commitment of the State of Qatar to everything related to the respect for human rights, social justice and sustainable development, as well as facilitating many major processes such as the ongoing negotiations between countries to reform the Security Council, the Declaration on the commemoration of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations, the General Assembly resolution defining the forms for the celebration of the 25th anniversary commemoration of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2019, the review of the report of the Economic and Social Council in 2018, and the preparations for the high-level meeting to evaluate the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons in 2017, among others.

She indicated that these roles truly reflect the world's confidence in the State of Qatar and the main role it continues to play through its active and effective diplomacy.

Highlighting Qatar's contributions with the international community in the fields of women's empowerment and gender equality, HE expressed her pride that the State of Qatar has a proven track record in supporting the sustainable development goals in this regard through its main material contributions to the United Nations funds and programs, in addition to its developmental contributions which primarily aimed at meeting the needs of women and girls. She noted the major role of the local partners, including the Education Above All foundation - the well-known Qatari organization working to secure the right to education, including girls' education, during conflicts around the world.

Moreover, HE highlighted the main partnership between the United Nations Capital Development Fund the State of Qatar through the development funds, noting that Qatar provides financial support to the Sustainable Development Goals Accelerator Labs, which are the innovative engine for the process of accelerating the progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. These innovative labs are located in 78 countries and in line with the United Nations goals on gender equality. Women make up 50 percent of the innovation experts in these labs.

As for international policies, HE Sheikha Alya noted the pioneering role of the State of Qatar in providing platforms for achieving goals related to women's empowerment.

She expressed pride for chairing the Group of Friends of the UN for Gender Parity, and for being an active member of the International Gender Champions, which is a global network of leaders committed to working together to break down gender barriers, among others.

She noted the State's continued efforts with the world to face the major global challenges resulted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For her part, HE Member of the Shura Council Dr. Hend bint Abdulrahman Al Muftah highlighted the important role played by women in the Shura Council in enhancing and guaranteeing women rights, including the importance of having a quota for women in the first Shura Council elections, to ensure a good representation of women in the council.

As for Director of the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al Horr touched on the importance of training and developing the skills of diplomats who join the diplomatic corps, and cited the role of the institute in that regard.

For her part, Secretary of National Committee for the Affairs of Woman, Children, the Elderly and People with Disabilities Huda Al Kuwari said that the constitution of the State of Qatar highlighted the principle of all citizens and prohibited gender discrimination. She noted that the Qatari labor law states that women should get equal pay to men if they are having the same occupation. The human resources law also offers women the same rights as men in terms of employment and promotions as well as in terms of assuming leadership positions.

She also said that the State of Qatar joined on March 24 of 2009 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, with decree no. 28 issued in June 23 of 2009. That view then let to the formation of the National Committee for the Affairs of Woman, Children, the Elderly and People with Disabilities in accordance with cabinet decision no. 26 for 2019, under the chairmanship of HE Minister of Administrative Development, Labor, and Social Affairs.

She said that the committee aims to protect the rights of women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities. She added that the committee also monitors the condition of these segments in order to enhance their role in society and follow up on the implementation of goals mentioned of international agreements regarding those segments.