Gender equality key to growth, progress in LDC: Sheikha Alya

HE the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani said on Wednesday that women's empowerment and gender equality are the key to sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty and progress towards social and human development.Speaking at the celebration of International Women's Day, which was held on the sidelines of the 5th UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), she said that the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) (2022-2031) set a number of goals and objectives for gender equality and the empowerment of women. It also considered that one of the ultimate priorities is to use the power of science, technology and new ideas to combat vulnerability and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), she added, stressing the importance of commitment to improving women's education, digital capacity and skills in a bid to bring about change and progress that will help achieve the SDGs.HE Sheikha Alya said that the world marks this year's International Women's Day under a very important title: 'Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality', with technology opening new doors for the global empowerment of women and girls, and the digital age offering an unprecedented opportunity to eliminate all forms of disparity and inequality. Although there are many crises around the world, the world has an opportunity to create a better future not only for women and girls, but for all, but it needs to focus on bridging the gap between men and women, technology, innovation and science to reach gender equality, she added.HE Sheikha Alya added that there are 3bn people without Internet connection, mostly women and girls in developing countries. In LDCs, there are only 19% of women who have access to the Internet, she said, pointing out that Qatar will do everything in its power to support the achievement of this goal, calling for all UN Member States and stakeholders to join Qatar and contribute to bridging the digital gap.In the same context, HE the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Rabab Fatima, said that the empowerment of women and girls is an essential element of the DPoA and a theme that has continued throughout the work of the LDC5, particularly with regard to education and digital skills.HE Rabab Fatima expressed her happiness at marking International Women's Day in Doha, and voicing hopes for women leaders participating in the LDC5 to have inspired the attendees, especially young women, to bring about real changes in their countries and in their lives. She expressed her admiration for the women speaking at the LDC5, and the confidence and persuasion they possess and how they seized the opportunity to lead, shape and influence the debate.HE Rabab Fatima stressed the need for access to education to be the greatest empowerment tool available to humanity, and for this access to be equal and comprehensive, noting that the world still has a long way to go to achieve this equality in all aspects of life. The world will be able to make this achievement through strong commitment and determination, she said. (QNA)