QNA
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 Acting Director of Department of Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Dr. Turki bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the State of Qatar H E Jon Wilks, Member of the Shura Council H E Dr. Hend bint Abd Al Rahman Al Muftah, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN in New York H E Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, Gender Team Leader at the Regional Office for Arab States of the United Nations Development Program Frances Guy, UK Special Envoy for Gender Equality Alicia Herbert, Director of the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al Horr, Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan to the State of Qatar H E 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, 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.
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.
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.
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 $30m 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.
For his part, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the State of Qatar H E 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 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.
Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations H E 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 Amir H H 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.
She underlined that Qatari women have always been at the forefront of Qatar’s innovative and transformative diplomacy. H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser represents a facade of Qatar’s commitment to education. H H Sheikha Moza has led pioneering social education initiatives around the world, and nobody can talk about education without referring to Her Highness.
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 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.
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.
For her part, 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.
