Qatar to host global conference next year on comprehensive peace paths for youth

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) New York: The State of Qatar will host in 2022 a high-level global conference on comprehensive peace paths for youth, in cooperation with Finland, Colombia, the office of the Secretary's Envoy on Youth and the Education Above All Foundation. 

The conference will focus, among other topics, on the participation of young women in the peace processes which would be in the interest of efforts to promote broad participation of women in peacemaking.

This came in the statement delivered by Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, H E Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, before the UN Security Council's open debate on“Women, Peace and Security: Investing in Women in Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding”.

The debate was presided over by   Richelle Omamo, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, who is chairing the work of the Council for this month.

Sheikha Alya affirmed that the agenda of women, peace and security is among the priorities of Qatar in the context of its comprehensive policies at the national and international levels, based on its firm belief in the importance of ensuring the full rights of women and the advancement  of the status of women as a primary partner in various stages of peacemaking and peacebuilding.  The statement referred to  Qatar's keenness, in its active role as a mediator in sponsoring dialogue for peace in Afghanistan, to include women in the Afghan peace talks.

It added that“Qatar, in the context of its continued keenness on its role as an international partner for Afghanistan,has devoted special attention to ensuring the preservation of the gains made by the Afghan people over the past decades, especially the gains made for women.  Qatar also stressed inclusiveness and respect for human rights for all, especially women, girls, children and minorities, and ensuring the vital role of Afghan women in the development of Afghanistan.”

The State of Qatar is actively coordinating with international partners, highlighting the centrality of women's rights in Islamic law and successful examples of commitment to this in many Islamic countries, including Qatar, where women are fully and constructively exercise their rights. 

Since women and girls generally bear the greatest harm when the humanitarian situation deteriorates, the statement of Qatar stressed the particular importance of solidarity with and support for Afghan women.

Sheikha Alya  noted that the State of Qatar has facilitated the communication of United Nations officials with the authorities in Kabul, which resulted in guarantees to facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid and not to obstruct the work of humanitarian actors, and to work on measures in favor of the continued operating of educational facilities and the education of girls.

The statement indicated that the State of Qatar has facilitated the evacuation and hosting of thousands of people during the past weeks, with paying attention to women and girls.

The statement also drew attention to the active role played by the State of Qatar in coordination with international partners, including the framework of the Group of Friends of Women in Afghanistan.

Given the importance of education, as a key factor in promoting women's participation in achieving peace and sustainable development in society, the statement stressed that the State of Qatar gives special priority to women and girls, especially in conflict situations, among the target groups in the education support programmes that it implements. In this regard, it referred to the pledge of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani,“May God Protect Him”, to provide quality education for one million girls, in the context of Qatar's support for the Charlevois Declaration on providing education for girls in emergencies.

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