New York/Information Office/09 November 2016/ The State of Qatar, which chairs the 50th session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development, has confirmed the importance of working to strengthen the institutional frameworks that deal with population and development issues in the Arab region.
This came in a speech delivered by HE Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani via video from New York at the opening session of the 17th annual meeting of the heads of population councils and committees in the Arab countries which began in Egypt's Sharm El Sheikh.
HE emphasized the importance of this session, which is being held after a year of achieving the desired development by adopting the 2030 Sustainable Development plan.
Qatar's participation in the 17th session of the annual meeting of the heads of councils and committees populated Arab countries came at the invitation of the General Secretariat of the Arab League (Population Policies, Expatriate and Migration Department).
HE the Ambassador stressed in her speech on the importance of Qatar's presidency of the 50th session of the UN Commission on Population and Development, as the first Arab country chaired this committee in a convenient and pivotal time and in very complex conditions experienced by the International Community, particularly in the Arab region, referring to the wars, humanitarian crises and the forced displacement of people. She also warned of the mass displacement movements that can cause an imbalance in the population structures.
HE then highlighted the important role played by the Commission in providing advice to the UN Economic and Social Council in matters relating to population, demographic trends and the population and development policies and programs.
HE also drew attention to the theme of the 50th session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development to be held in April 2017 about "Changing population age structures and sustainable development", which will pay particular attention to the younger generation, and the direct impact of the differences of demographic trends and age structures on their lives.
HE Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani also emphasized on the need to develop tools to take advantage of demographic data in solving humanitarian crises and addressing the challenge of the development interventions for the most needy people.
HE Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Aliaa Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani said that in light of the different social, economic and environmental challenges in the Arab region, the main component of population sector in the Arab world which means the youth should not be overlooked as they are considered as a key power for development and an effective element to stimulate change in their communities.
She pointed out that enabling and involving youth in developing and implementing development programs as well as investing their abilities and realizing their aspirations are fundamental issues that should be included in the development plans and policies.
Regarding refugees and migrants crises, HE the Ambassador said that the international community agreed today that to reach sustainable solutions for the large and rapid flows of refugees and immigrants, an intensive cooperation is required to achieve a comprehensive vision to address the root causes that led these groups to take risks and indifference to their lives and their destiny in search of a safe life.
HE the Ambassador further added that in light of the old and emerging enormous demographic challenges that faced the Arab region, the important role of councils and national committees of the population must be noted as well as the active participation and cooperation among all concerned authorities, including governments, the private sector and civil society in order to address the current and emerging challenges.
She stressed the need to closely monitor the progress made towards achieving the goals and objectives of sustainable development and the necessary guidance should be provided to ensure the effectiveness of the work. 
She also noted to forming a working group comprising of the Arab League, the UN Population Fund, the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA), representatives from Arab governments and experts to discuss the prioritization of the Arab region population within the sustainable development objectives at the regional and national levels.
She also stressed the importance of work to strengthen the institutional frameworks that deal with population and development issues in the Arab region and supporting them to carry out their roles, especially the production of knowledge, policies proposal, follow-up and evaluate them, and the work to integrate population issues in all national plans.
The 17th meeting of the heads of population councils and committees in the Arab countries, which lasted for two days, was held in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Arab League, the UN Population Fund and the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) as part of the consecration of the annual meeting of the heads of councils and population councils in the Arab countries.