Qatar stressed the importance of data related to older persons in determining the measures necessary to be taken in order to ensure safety of their rights and to provide services directed to them.


This came in the Qatar's statement delivered by Deputy Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva Abdullah Hamad Al Nuaimi during the interactive dialogue with the independent expert on the enjoyment of all human rights for the elderly at the forty-fifth session of the Human Rights Council.

At the outset of his speech, Al Nuaimi expressed the Qatari delegation welcome to Claudia Mahler, the independent expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, while wishing her success in carrying out her mandate and affirming full readiness to cooperate with her. He also commended the effort made by Rosa Kornfeld-Matte and thanked her for distinguished performance during her tenure.

He agreed with Mahler's opinion on the importance of data related to older persons in determining the measures necessary to be taken in order to ensure that they enjoy their rights and the services directed to them. To confirm this, the Planning and Statistics Authority of the State of Qatar used to provide various statistical data to governmental and non-governmental agencies because of the importance of this data in putting policies and strategies, including those related to comprehensive development, he added.

With regard to data related to the older persons, he said, the Planning and Statistics Authority has cooperated, through the service of preparing surveys, questionnaires and opinion polls, to assist the Center of Empowerment and Elderly Care (Ehsan) to conduct research on the conditions and needs of the elderly in the Qatari society, where advanced digital techniques provided by the Planning and Statistics Authority were used in order to reach accurate scientific results. This research aimed to improve and support the services that are provided to the elderly, based on scientific studies and integrated statistical data on the elderly in Qatar.

Based on available and renewable statistical data, Ehsan Center used to provide a variety of care services targeting the elderly in their homes and in specialized care homes, he said. In line with the recent precautionary measures and measures to confront the coronavirus (Covid-19) and to protect the elderly and those who use care service at home from the risk of infection with the virus, the centre, since last March, started using remote services for the elderly through support and social counselling teams, through the use of (telephone communication system) and social media programs, where a large number of instant messages were delivered through these platforms, which include many important information to follow up the condition of the elderly socially, psychologically and healthily.

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