Media Center

Doha / Information Office / October 31

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, organized a celebration on the occasion of United Nations Day, which falls on the 24th of October each year.

The ceremony, which was held today at the Diplomatic Club, was attended by HE Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ahmad Hassan Al-Hamadi, and HE United Nations Secretary-General's Humanitarian Envoy Dr. Ahmed Al Meraikhi, the Director of the UNESCO Office in Doha Anna Paolini, and a number of officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representatives of civil society and social and charitable institutions.

In a speech at the beginning of the ceremony, HE Secretary General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ahmad Hassan Al-Hamadi said that this celebration is a pride and a culmination of the achievements of the distinguished partnership between the State of Qatar and the United Nations, as well as the completion of the celebration of the United Nations Day, which was held in New York last week under the auspices of Qatar and this celebration also expresses pride in the achievement of the partnership between the two parties in the history of international relations in particular and in human life in general.

His Excellency praised the distinguished relations since Qatar joined the United Nations in 1971, pointing in this context to the formation of the permanent delegation of the State of Qatar to the United Nations in New York in the same year in order to represent the country and manage its relations with the Organization, and then the opening of the Qatari missions represented in the United Nations United in various cities of the world.

His Excellency also valued the strategic partnership between Qatar and the United Nations which has worked to achieve its objectives, including the maintenance of international peace and security, supporting international development efforts, promoting and consolidating human rights and providing humanitarian relief, as well as participating in collective efforts and initiatives to address the current and emerging challenges facing the world.

His Excellency stressed Qatar's commitment to the United Nations through its continued generous financial contributions to many organs of the Organization, the opening of several United Nations offices in Doha, in addition to the active participation of the State of Qatar in the United Nations meetings and collective efforts to promote interfaith dialogue, support the Alliance of Civilizations, protect human rights in Qatar and abroad, and participate in decision-making by financing development, relief and reconstruction.

His Excellency stressed that Qatar's support to the United Nations stems from its firm belief in the ability of the Organization to overcome international crises through its work to achieve international peace and security, combating terrorism and achieving the goals of sustainable development, and to face common challenges, especially the challenges of climate and climate change, which Qatar has supported the United Nations plans to address them.

For her part, Secretary-General of the Qatar National Committee for Education, Culture and Science Dr. Hamda Al-Sulaiti said in her speech during the ceremony, that the purpose of this celebration is to remind the world of the importance and necessity of activating and strengthening the role of this organization in order to achieve the goals for which it was founded on the twenty-fourth of October 1945 to achieve security and international peace.

Dr. Al-Sulaiti praised the success achieved by the United Nations over the long years, represented in many achievements in the political, economic, social, humanitarian, environmental, cultural and educational fields., adding that this has contributed to the independence of many countries and the resolution of political differences between other countries, in addition to development and technical assistance provided to developing countries to help them to invest their natural resources, and to develop their national and human resources and development projects and care for human rights in the areas of health, education and culture.

Dr. Al-Sulaiti called on the United Nations to introduce radical reforms in all its institutions and bodies so that its decisions have credibility and influence away from the domination of some states and the Organization shall have the greatest and effective role in ending the scourge of wars, famines and international conflicts and in achieving respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States.

She added that from this point of view, from January 2020, UN-75 will launch dialogues at all levels, from classrooms to administrative boards, from parliaments to municipal councils with the aim of reaching as many people as possible, to listen to their hopes and fears, to benefit from their thoughts and experiences.

Dr. Al-Sulaiti pointed out to the State of Qatar's assistance and humanitarian and development assistance to the bodies, institutions and offices of the United Nations in the world to support and promote its objectives in its areas of work, which contributed to the construction of educational institutions and schools in poor countries in Asia and Africa, and this has provided educational opportunities for millions of children around the world and shared money and expertise in combating infectious diseases in conflict zones.

In turn, the Director of the UNESCO Office in Doha Anna Paolini praised the role of the State of Qatar in support of UNESCO, indicating that the State of Qatar hosts the Office of the Organization, noting that the relationship between the two parties is based on mutual understanding and respect.

Paolini expressed her pride in working within the United Nations family, stressing that the law adopted by the United Nations seeks to achieve peace and security, and plans drawn up by the United Nations organizations seek to address problems in the world and spread peace and save lives, which requires support and assistance from the State.

In conclusion, she thanked the State of Qatar for providing this opportunity to recall the noble values of helping and promoting humanity, achieving sustainable development and enhancing the quality of education. She also addressed the challenges that still face the achievement of the goals of the United Nations and UNESCO, such as racial discrimination against women, and problems of gender equality.

She also praised the great efforts made by the State of Qatar in empowering women through legislation and laws besides education, which enabled Qatari women to assume leadership positions, as well as the representation of the State of Qatar in international forums and UN organizations and other international organizations.

During a panel discussion held on the sidelines of the ceremony, and directed by HE Director of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Tariq Ali Al-Ansari, the Chief Executive Officer of the Qatar Foundation for Social Work (QFSW) Amal Al Mannai, pointed out the important role played by the foundation in society, as one of the important development sectors linking all sectors of the state, whether governmental, private or civil.

Al Mannai pointed out that the relationship between the foundation and the United Nations is centered on the consultative membership obtained by the foundation in 2016, pointing in this regard to the large international events mandated by the foundation to organize a conference on disability and development, which will be held in December, with the participation of all United Nations organizations. She noted that an important session will be held in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNESCO on education, the session mimics the convergence of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with the United Nations sustainable development agenda and maximizing access to education, employment, health and other important areas.

Al-Mannai noted that the foundation has played a major role in the design of the national development strategy. It is currently responsible for more than 42 projects and needs the expertise of UN organizations in capacity building.

For his part, Director of the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Horr, in his speech during the session noted to the growing sense of the decline of the role of international organizations and their inability to interact with international issues,stressing that this feeling has grown with the rise of right-wing currents in Europe and America, and that the discussion between the concerned now revolves around the mechanism of restructuring organizations for themselves and restore confidence in their ability to restore their effectiveness, and their ability to react to crises.

Dr. Al-Horr also addressed United Nations Institute for Training and Research UNITAR, a UN training wing, stressing that the existing cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs represented by the Diplomatic Institute and UNITAR is a great opportunity for capacity-building, in addition to benefiting from consultations and cooperation, pointing out in the same context to the existing and unprecedented cooperation between the Ministry and the Authority in the field of professional competencies of diplomatic work.

He also pointed out that the benefit of international bodies and organizations and cooperation with them is at several levels, the needs and expertise required by the State must be identified, in order to achieve the maximum benefit, referring to the generous grant made by the State of Qatar represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of UNITAR to train diplomatic cadres in marginalized countries.

The Director of the UNESCO Office in Doha Anna Paolini, praised the cooperation with Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science and their work with the government and the long-term joint planning.

The Director of the UNESCO Office in Doha drew attention to the activities of the UNESCO Office and the significant role played by UNESCO in supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly its fourth item on education, and in close cooperation between UNESCO and the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.

Regarding education in Qatar, she explained that the role of the office is to follow up and review and ensure the quality of education at all stages from childhood to higher education, pointing to the achievement of the State of Qatar in 2017-18 the fourth goal of development.

She pointed out in this context to the challenges facing these endeavors, including matching the quality of education to the needs of the labor market, especially taking into account the fluctuations of the economy, in addition to Qatar's trend towards a knowledge-based economy, which requires more work, efforts and support to achieve the required goals and enhance the quality of education and achieve equality in education.

She explained that the contribution of UNESCO is not limited to the humanitarian side only, but that UNESCO plays a developmental role and has contributions in the field of crisis management and human development,

She praised the State of Qatar's support for the Education Above All initiative and for all activities undertaken and supported by Qatar, which are appreciated by the Doha Office or UNESCO Headquarters.

For her part, Dr. Hamda Al-Sulaiti reviewed the activity of Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science and the values it works on.

She pointed out that the Commission has set values that have ensured the basis of its work and programs, including respect for cultures, quality and transparency, pointing out that these values are based on international conventions and international educational organizations.

Dr. Al-Sulaiti reviewed the programs and activities organized and implemented by the Commission, which were not limited to institutions but also included all segments of society and schools, including a project in cooperation with UNESCO. It focuses on four core activities: UNESCO Ambassadors, the Green School Program, Intercultural Dialogue and National Affiliation, which serve UNESCO's various themes in science, technology and media.

Dr. Al-Sulaiti said that the commission plays the role of a link between institutions and official bodies and UNESCO, stressing that there are programs and activities that define the role of the society and its institutions.