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Geneva /Information Office/ 16 June 2015/ The State of Qatar reiterated that it adopted a comprehensive policy for the development of its education system based on the principle of equal opportunities for individuals of both sexes and the promotion of entry and retention opportunities without discrimination. To this end, Qatar had launched national initiatives and approved a strategy for education and training sector (2011 - 2016) aimed at building advanced educational systems along with providing equal opportunities for outstanding education and training, which contributed to the closing of the gender gap and increased enrollment of girls in education at all stages. This came in a speech by Qatar's delegation delivered today by Noor Al Sada, Second Secretary of Qatar's Permanent Mission in Geneva, during "a panel discussion on realizing the equal enjoyment of the right to education by every girl" under Item (3) in the framework of the 29th session of the Human Rights Council being held from 15 June to 3 July. "The right to education, guaranteed for by a number of international conventions on human rights, is a fundamental right for all and an access to the enjoyment of all other human rights," she said, adding that the recognition and protection of the right of girls to education constitute a fundamental pillar for the development of societies. "Qatar's attention to education is not only confined to the national framework, but goes beyond that through the adoption of global initiatives to provide quality education for millions of children of both sexes who have lost their right to education under the conditions of conflict, insecurity and disasters", Al Sada said, referring to Educate a Child initiative, which launched by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the UNESCO Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education, in 2012 to reduce the numbers of children, including the girls, who have lost their right to education in all parts of the world because of conflicts, wars and natural disasters. This initiative was launched in 9 countries, and is now operating in 38 countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America, she added. The Second Secretary of Qatar's Permanent Mission in Geneva added the full realization of the right of girls to education requires a number of measures, including raising community awareness about the importance of girls' access to quality education without discrimination, provision of an appropriate education environment along with opportunities for them to access it equally, among others. Concluding her speech, Al Sada said that the goal of education for all cannot be achieved without the full realization of the right of girls to education without discrimination through concerted international and national efforts to overcome the obstacles and promote good practices, which are one of the main objectives of this debate.