THE positive outcomes of Qatar’s initiatives in peacemaking and crime prevention have drawn widespread applause from several countries. Qatar is an active partner with international organisations, especially different agencies of the United Nations.
This partnership has already resulted in several breakthroughs in making the world a better place, especially the lessdeveloped countries. In a recent meeting with Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Dr. Ahmad Hassen Al Hammadi, Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Division for Treaty Affairs in Vienna John Brandolino expressed the gratitude of the United Nations Office for the generous support extended by Qatar, which enhanced UNODC’s capabilities in assisting countries, especially the developing ones, in combating organised crime and related drug crimes, terrorism, corruption and protecting young people from the dangers of these crimes.
Qatar has significantly expanded its cooperation with UNODC after the 13th Crime Congress hosted in Doha in April 2015, which resulted in the adoption of Doha Declaration. Following the Congress, UNODC launched ambitious global programmes, funded generously by Qatar, dedicated exclusively to promote rule of law.
The programme is anchored on four main components such as Education for Justice, Judicial Integrity, Youth Crime Prevention through Sport and Prisoner Rehabilitation. The programme known as Global Programme for the Implementation of the Doha Declaration, is aimed mainly to understand that rule of law and sustainable development are interrelated and mutually reinforcing. In November 2015, a multi-million-dollar funding agreement was signed between Qatar and UNODC in Vienna.
The agreement, worth more than $49m, was slated to run over four years to deliver projects related to justice, prisoners, youth and justice education. During the signing ceremony, UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov said: This agreement is unprecedented in the history of UNODC and I commend Qatar’s support for the 13th Crime Congress and the leadership and commitment it has shown during and after the event.” Qatar has been instrumental in bringing fundamental changes to the life of prisoners, which helped them find a livelihood and lead a decent life after completion of prison terms.
Qatar funded a prison rehabilitation programme in Kyrgyz Republic and with the aid of Qatar, a programme was implemented for medical and preventive equipment for prison workers in El Salvador.
In April 2019, a memorandum of understanding between the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and UNODC was signed to strengthen international efforts in promoting sport for preventing crimes and weaning away sports from the involvement of organised crime, fraud and abuse of function etc.
All these are just a few examples for Qatar’s contribution towards eradicating the scourge of drugs and crime from the world and to provide education and employment opportunities for thousands of youth in the developing world.
