Qatar renews commitment to sustainable development initiatives

Qatar renewed its commitment to effectively contribute to the international efforts aimed at achieving comprehensive and sustainable development, noting its keenness on adopting an approach based on the protection and promotion of human rights for all segments of the society without discrimination during its development process.This came in the statement of Qatar delivered by Third Secretary of Qatar's Permanent Mission to the United Nations Sheikha Al Maha bint Mubarak al-Thani, before the general debate of the UN General Assembly Third Committee on the item "Social Development". Sheikha Al Maha al-Thani noted that Qatar has adopted many procedures and measures at the legislative and executive levels that have contributed to achieving tangible results in all dimensions of social development without leaving anyone behind, with the aim of achieving Qatar National Vision 2030.She referred in particular to the achievements made through the national committee for the affairs of woman, children, the elderly and people with disabilities of the Ministry of Social Development and Family, which contributed significantly to promoting integration in work and service within a unified and organized national framework among the concerned authorities in the country.She expressed Qatar's aspiration to host the 4th Global Disability Summit in 2028, in co-operation with the International Disability Alliance, stressing Qatar's full readiness to welcome football fans in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as the most accessible tournament for people with disabilities in terms of the ease of access and movement in all tournament facilities, as well as the digital content that takes into account their specific needs.She reiterated Qatar's keenness to place the youth category at the centre of its development policies, noting that this category enjoys attention in the international development and humanitarian aid programs implemented by Qatar in many countries around the world. She indicated that the total support provided through the Qatar Fund for Development to the education sector amounted to nearly $980mn during the past decade, benefiting millions of young people and children in 65 countries around the world.Sheikha Al Maha highlighted the pioneering role carried out by Qatar in preparing for the Transforming Education Summit held by the UN Secretary-General on Sept 19, whether by holding national consultations on education transformation, or by hosting the preparatory regional consultations for the Arab region and West Asia. She expressed Qatar's pride that the summit program included the launch of two important initiatives as a contribution to the efforts made to transform education, namely the "Rasekh initiative" launched by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar concerning localising education for a sustainable future; and the initiative of the Education Above All Foundation in collaboration with the World Bank, the Global Partnership for Education and Sierra Leone related to innovative financing mechanisms for education.She explained that through the experience of Qatar, the importance of adopting family-oriented social and economic policies was emphasised, given their great contribution to achieving comprehensive, feasible and sustainable social development. The Third Secretary of Qatar's Permanent Mission to the United Nations expressed Qatar's aspiration to host the international conference to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2024.