Qatar has always been at the forefront in the fight for protecting human rights of its people and has always voiced its concern whenever the rights of the people across the world came under threat from any group or government. Qatar’s representatives at the United Nations have been keen to take up the issues faced by the less-privileged people such as vulnerable children, people displaced by conflicts and natural calamities.
Qatar reiterated its commitment to protecting children in armed conflicts and its support for international efforts to achieve this goal. Acting Charge D’Affaires of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Abdulrahman Yacoub Al Hammadi told a meeting of the UN Security Council on ‘Children and armed conflict: Protecting children today prevents conflicts tomorrow’ that Qatar will spare no efforts to support those measures to protect children in all circumstances and by all means and to provide an environment conducive to their development in safe and healthy conditions. This will enable them to develop their capabilities to become creators of a future of peace, security and prosperity for all the peoples of the world.
Al Hammadi announced the participation of Qatar in organising the first international conference on youth participation in peace tracks in partnership with Finland and Colombia in cooperation with the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth to be held in Helsinki.
Qatar has spearheaded several programmes for empowering children in poor countries and conflict zones, who were robbed off their right to education and a peaceful childhood.
Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development’s (QF) efforts under the directive and direct involvement of H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, its Chairperson, in promoting children’s education across the world is attracting laurels from the international community. In April last year in New York H H Sheikha Moza announced the achievement of providing quality education to 10 million children deprived of school in more than 50 countries around the world.
This was an achievement by Education Above All Foundation of QF in partnership with Unicef and more than 80 global partners.
It is also worth mentioning that Qatar was among the first countries to ratify the Oslo Safe Schools Declaration.
The country has given greater importance to the creation of not only educational but employment opportunities to the young people in national, regional international levels. Qatar is concerned about the increase in the number of violations against children in the context of armed conflicts in 2017 as evident from a report of the United Nations Secretary-General.
It may not be easy to stem the spread of conflicts and violence, but sparing children from these disputes and providing them safe areas with access to education and entertainment should not be a huge burden. Spoiling the life of today’s children means spoiling the future of humanity.
