Qatar ‘committed to protecting rights of women’

Qatar has affirmed its commitment to the implementation of itsobligations to international and regional conventions and charters thatenshrine the human rights of women, especially the United NationsConvention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination againstWomen.This came in a statement delivered by Sarah Mohamed Kamal al-Emadi, amember of Qatar’s delegation participating in the 72nd Session of theUnited Nations General Assembly.Al-Emadi said the issue of the advancement of women is a priority in thepolicy of Qatar, based on the pivotal role of women in all walks oflife.This is reflected in the Constitution, which provides for equality ofrights and public duties, equality of all before the law withoutdiscrimination.“The State of Qatar is keen to integrate women’s issues, particularlythose related to enhancing their participation in economic and politicaldecision-making, providing decent work and promoting social protectionin all national strategies and plans, including Qatar National Vision2030, and Family Strategy,” she added.She noted that the link between women’s empowerment, gender equality anddevelopment is a reality that the international community hasrecognised and addressed through the fifth goal of sustainabledevelopment, and that achieving this goal, which is integrated withother sustainable development goals, requires collective efforts andconstructive partnerships among all actors to ensure the implementationof all international obligations and treaties related to the achievementof the fifth objective, she said.She emphasised that Qatari women have made great strides in theirparticipation in various areas of life thanks to the strong politicalwill of wise leadership to empower women and enhance their participationin the human development process.Qatar is one of the first countries to encourage the education of girlsin the Gulf region in 1938 with the first school for girls at the homeof Amna al-Jaidah who was called the “pyramid of education”, al-Emadisaid.The state puts education and especially the education of girls among thepriorities of its policy and development assistance at home and abroad,she added.She said that Qatar is one of the first countries in the Gulf region to grant women the right to vote and to stand for office.Qatari women are currently qualified to hold senior positions in thestate as ministers, judges, ambassadors and university presidents,public prosecutors, police and security force.Al-Emadi said the reports indicate that the percentage of femaleparticipation in the labour force during the previous years had touched35.1%, thanks to amendments to the Qatari Labour Law, the provision ofmaternity leave and the granting of breastfeeding hours, and the policyof encouraging the sharing of family responsibilities between parentsand mothers, adding that the state has spared no effort to motivatewomen and encourage them to enter the world of business and investmentin the private sector.She stressed that the efforts to eliminate violence against women areamong the most important efforts that contribute to the achievingdevelopment and promoting peace and social security.In this regard, she said, Qatar has established mechanisms forempowerment and protection such as the National Social ActionFoundation, which includes the Centre for Social Protection andRehabilitation, to protect and reintegrate women victims of violenceinto society.