Qatar has been a member of the United Nations since 1971 and it was one of the first countries to ratify the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1996.
The country values its strategic partnership with the UN and has always worked towards achieving its goals, including maintaining international peace and security, supporting international development, promoting human rights, providing humanitarian assistance, and participating in collective action to address existing and emerging challenges facing the world. The nation has made financial contributions to various UN bodies and entities aimed at supporting projects in the areas of development and humanitarian aid.
Qatar and the UN signed several agreements on the sidelines of the 2018 Doha Forum. The agreements included a $500m (QR1.82bn) pledge to various UN programmes and the establishment of four new UN offices in Doha. The agreement further pledged annual support to the UN Development Programme, the UN Children’s Fund, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Qatar witnessed opening of United Nations House at Lusail in March this year. The House functions as a platform for all UN agencies to work closely with Qatar.
The Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Public-Private Partnerships and Islamic Social Finance, Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Muraikhi has stressed that the partnership between Qatar and the UN goes beyond the government sector or civil society institutions, and extends to the private sector as well.
The United Nations House hosts UN offices that cover the countries of the region while promoting development and consolidating human rights. In 2018, an agreement was signed by Qatar and the UN regarding the establishment of the UN House in Qatar.
The house coordinates regional functions of International Organisation for Migration, International Labour Organisation, United Nations Education, Sciences and Culture Organisation, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism, United Nations Development Programme and World Health Organisation.
Qatar continues to partner with the United Nations’ various bodies. The latest of these partnerships culminated in the state’s Ministry of Sports and Youth signing a memorandum of understanding with Unicef to improve cooperation on issues related to the social and economic empowerment and inclusion of Qatari youth.
