H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice-Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, at the launch of Doha Debates, yesterday.
Doha: Qatar Foundation (QF) launched a new concept for Doha Debates, a series that will bring powerful voices and thoughts tighter on pressing global issues, yesterday.
The launch of the innovative series to seek exciting new solutions to global challenges through lively debates, was attended by H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice-Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation (QF), at Qatar National Library.
The QF initiative, produced under the patronage of H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of QF, returning six years after the original debates last aired.
The relaunch of Doha Debates, was also attended by members of QF’s leadership, students, and educators and several others. The Season 1 is set to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The first debate will be on the global refugee crisis be end of February 2019 in Doha and the last one of the series will be on gender equality, held in Kerala, India.
The series will include topics water shortage, loss of faith in institutions, capitalism, global citizenship and artificial intelligence. Passionate differences of opinion are encouraged in Doha Debates, and it will be live onstage, in videos, podcasts and social media conversations.
The set of the new format of Doha Debates will be in the concept of a ‘Majlis,’ which will showcase a mix of the tradition and contemporary Doha.
“In a time when soundbites and fake news risk drowning out analysis and discourse, and crucial issues are often viewed through a narrow lens, the importance of enabling and promoting 360-degree thinking is clear. Doha Debates allows such thinking to thrive,” said Sheikha Hind.
“Its new concept continues the proud Doha Debates tradition, stretching back to its inception 14 years ago, when it was the only platform of its kind for Arab youth to speak out about the world’s most pressing matters and share their perspectives. But it also represents the evolution of this platform – and what we stand for as a culture, as a nation and as Qatar Foundation.
“The Majlis format of Doha Debates promotes conversation, rather than competition. It is an equitable setting, not an adversarial one, where every voice is heard, and where issues are addressed and problems solved together. It is a platform rooted in our traditions, and wholly relevant to today. And it is a reflection of values that are at the core of QF, and are woven into the fabric of Education City: a place where respectful dialogue, open-mindedness, and freedom of expression are encouraged.”
Aligning with the objectives of QF’s educational mission, Season 1 of Doha Debates will include digital conversations and live debates held at Northwestern University in Qatar, a QF partner university, at Education City in Doha, Qatar, and international cities. The live events are moderated by Ghida Fakhry, an award-winning multilingual journalist and TV host. The events livestreamed across digital channels.
“Doha Debates was never just a talk show. It’s a showcase for all the passions and dramatic confrontations of the Middle East and the world. Instead of just debating problems, Doha Debates will engage millions of young people to find individual solutions, not in a gladiator-style winner-takes-all shouting match to score political points, but in invigorating and creative formats across a multitude of platforms,” said Amjad Atallah, managing director of the new Doha Debates.
Doha Debates announced its partnerships with TED and Shared_Studios. Through its partnership with TED, Doha Debates will reach new audiences on digital channels, with its first co-partnered events on January 16, 2019, in New York City during the TED Salon ‘Up for Debate’, which will explore human engagement and communication.
