Qatar affirms relentless efforts to protect and promote children's rights

Qatar affirmed that it will spare no effort to protect and promote children's rights, noting that it has made great strides over the past decades in this regard by adopting many measures at the legislative and executive levels in many areas and sectors, within the implementation of Qatar National Vision 2030, which is consistent with its obligations with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols.

This came in Qatar's statement made by the Third Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations, Sheikha Al Maha Mubarak Al-Thani, before the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) of the United Nations General Assembly on the item "Promoting and Protecting Children's Rights." Sheikha Al Maha said that the State of Qatar attaches great importance to protecting and promoting children's rights, especially the right to education, indicating that the state's investment in education at the national level exceeded 10 percent of its total expenditures, which is one of the highest rates in the world.

Shaikha Al Maha added that Qatar's support for the education sector at the international level over the past decade, provided through the Qatar Fund for Development, has reach nearly $980 million, benefiting millions of children across the world through developmental and humanitarian aid programs implemented in 65 countries, especially in conflict-hit areas. This support constitutes 17 percent of the total support provided by the State of Qatar for all sectors.

She underlined that the failure to commit to ensuring children's right to education undermines human rights, sustainable development and the economy, especially in societies suffering from conflict and humanitarian crises.

She pointed out that the Education Above All Foundation launched a data portal "TRACE" with the aim of collecting information about attacks on educational institutions and their perpetrators, and encouraging governments and stakeholders to monitor and report attacks to be held accountable, as part of the efforts to follow up on the implementation of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 74/275 submitted from the Qatar, which declared Sept. 9 the International Day to Protect Education from Attack.

She said that it is a matter of pride that the Qatar is considered among the five leading countries in the field of supporting quality education at the global level, which enabled it to take a leading role in preparing for the Transforming Education Summit, held by the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Sept. 19, both through its membership in the Advisory Committee, its hosting of preparatory regional consultations for the Arab region and Western Asia, as well as its contribution to providing the summit with a large stock of information and innovations based on its field experience in the field of protecting and supporting quality education, especially in conflict areas.

Sheikha Al Maha stated that the State of Qatar continues to provide support to the main resources of the Office of the Special Representative in New York, based on its awareness of the importance of the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict.

She pointed to the opening of the Analysis and Research Center of the Office of the Special Representative in Doha in June 2022, noting that this center will contribute to building institutional knowledge about current and future efforts to protect children, with a special focus on the reintegration of children. The Center will also activate the practical guidance for mediators to protect children in situations of armed conflict.

She stressed the Qatar's commitment to continue providing support to Unicef, through its renewal of the agreement to contribute to basic resources to provide $8 million for 2022-2023. She highlighted the recent partnership between UNICEF, the Qatar Fund for Development and the Qatar Areed Group which aims to support a stronger process of building and recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic.

In conclusion, she reiterated that the State of Qatar will spare no effort to protect and promote children's rights, and to provide an enabling environment for their education and upbringing in safe and healthy conditions, capable of developing their capabilities to become makers for a future of peace, security and prosperity.