Director of Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Turki bin Abdulla Al Mahmoud taking part in 10th session of ESCWA committee on women through video conference.
Doha: The State of Qatar participated in the 10th session of the Committee on Women of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), hosted in Beirut yesterday.
Qatar was represented in the session via video conference technology by Director of the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Turki bin Abdulla Al Mahmoud.
Qatar chaired the ninth session of the Committee on Women of the ESCWA.
Dr. Turki Al Mahmoud, in Qatar’s speech before the session, reiterated that Qatar will spare no effort in continuing its efforts to empower women at all national, regional, and international levels, and its keenness to provide support and an environment that would enhance their political, civil, social and economic and cultural rights.
He explained that this interest was reflected in the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the first and second national development strategies, noting the national legislation issued in recent years reflected the state’s interest in promoting women’s rights, eliminating discrimination, and establishing the rules of equality between them in various fields.
He pointed out that the number of Qatari women joining judiciary, public prosecution, and diplomatic corps have doubled, explaining that the percentage of Qatari women’s representation in decision-making positions is 30 percent, adding that Qatar National Vision 2030 and the population policy 2017-2022 aim to increase the percentage of political representation of Qatari women.
He added that perhaps one of the most important and prominent developments is the organisation of the first elections for the Qatari Shura Council on October 2.
Organising these elections came within the framework of the ambitious policy pursued by the state to develop its legislative mechanisms by expanding the scope of popular participation in a way that reflects the values of the Qatari constitution and Qatar National Vision 2030. His Excellency pointed out that two women were members of the Council, one of whom held the position of Vice-President of the Council.
He pointed out that the establishment of the Ministry of Social Development and Family came to strengthen the institutional structure related to women’s rights, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.
He stressed that the institutional efforts culminated in the issuance of a cabinet decision to establish the National Committee for the Affairs of Woman, Children, the Elderly, and People with Disabilities.
He reiterated the State of Qatar’s full keenness to implement its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and its full cooperation with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and other international and regional mechanisms.
