Qatar has affirmed its commitment to the implementation of its
obligations to international and regional conventions and charters that
enshrine the human rights of women, especially the United Nations
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women.
This came in a statement delivered by Sarah Mohamed Kamal al-Emadi, a
member of Qatar’s delegation participating in the 72nd Session of the
United Nations General Assembly.
Al-Emadi said the issue of the advancement of women is a priority in the
policy of Qatar, based on the pivotal role of women in all walks of
life.
This is reflected in the Constitution, which provides for equality of
rights and public duties, equality of all before the law without
discrimination.
“The State of Qatar is keen to integrate women’s issues, particularly
those related to enhancing their participation in economic and political
decision-making, providing decent work and promoting social protection
in all national strategies and plans, including Qatar National Vision
2030, and Family Strategy,” she added.
She noted that the link between women’s empowerment, gender equality and
development is a reality that the international community has
recognised and addressed through the fifth goal of sustainable
development, and that achieving this goal, which is integrated with
other sustainable development goals, requires collective efforts and
constructive partnerships among all actors to ensure the implementation
of all international obligations and treaties related to the achievement
of the fifth objective, she said.
She emphasised that Qatari women have made great strides in their
participation in various areas of life thanks to the strong political
will of wise leadership to empower women and enhance their participation
in the human development process.
Qatar is one of the first countries to encourage the education of girls
in the Gulf region in 1938 with the first school for girls at the home
of Amna al-Jaidah who was called the “pyramid of education”, al-Emadi
said.
The state puts education and especially the education of girls among the
priorities of its policy and development assistance at home and abroad,
she added.
She said that Qatar is one of the first countries in the Gulf region to grant women the right to vote and to stand for office.
Qatari women are currently qualified to hold senior positions in the
state as ministers, judges, ambassadors and university presidents,
public prosecutors, police and security force.
Al-Emadi said the reports indicate that the percentage of female
participation in the labour force during the previous years had touched
35.1%, thanks to amendments to the Qatari Labour Law, the provision of
maternity leave and the granting of breastfeeding hours, and the policy
of encouraging the sharing of family responsibilities between parents
and mothers, adding that the state has spared no effort to motivate
women and encourage them to enter the world of business and investment
in the private sector.
She stressed that the efforts to eliminate violence against women are
among the most important efforts that contribute to the achieving
development and promoting peace and social security.
In this regard, she said, Qatar has established mechanisms for
empowerment and protection such as the National Social Action
Foundation, which includes the Centre for Social Protection and
Rehabilitation, to protect and reintegrate women victims of violence
into society.
