Latest news with #HendAbdulrahmanAlMuftah
Qatar Tribune
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
UNHRC adopts resolution submitted by Qatar on women empowerment
QNA Geneva The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva unanimously adopted the resolution on empowering women and girls in and through sport, proposed by the State of Qatar on behalf of the core group that includes Indonesia and Morocco, as part of the Council's 59th session. The resolution received broad support within the Human Rights Council, with 71 countries from various geographic groups joining as co-sponsors. While presenting the resolution for adoption, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Office in Geneva HE Dr Hend Abdulrahman Al Muftah emphasised that sports, being a universal language, holds tremendous potential for promoting human rights, fostering values of tolerance, and contributing to sustainable development. She highlighted the many benefits of women and girls' participation in sports, whether in terms of physical and mental health or personal and professional development, versus the persistent challenges which include low participation, underrepresentation in leadership positions, pay gaps, and limited media coverage. She said that the resolution carries a global message, which is that dignity and equality are indivisible and that progress in sports leads to progress in other aspects of life, adding that the resolution includes provisions for holding a panel discussion during the Council's 62nd session in June 2026, as well as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights preparing a report to be presented at the 65th session in June 2027, coinciding with the FIFA Women's World Cup, which will serve as a significant international opportunity to advance the empowerment of women in major sporting events. She affirmed that during the drafting process, the core group was committed to adopting a constructive and consensual approach by making intensive efforts in both formal and informal consultations to accommodate as many views and positions as possible. She expressed gratitude to all countries and non-governmental organizations for their valuable contributions during these consultations, stressing that multilateral forums should remain spaces for mutual understanding, respect, and consensus-building. During the resolution's adoption session, several country representatives, speaking on behalf of their geographic groups and in their national capacities, delivered statements in support of the resolution.
Qatar Tribune
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Education is a transformative tool for women & girls: Al Muftah
QNA Geneva Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Office in Geneva HE Dr Hend Abdulrahman Al Muftah has renewed the call for immediate action to accelerate international efforts to enhance the enjoyment of human rights by women and girls, foremost among them the right to quality, comprehensive, effective, and unrestricted education. She emphasized that education is a transformative tool for women and girls, equipping them with knowledge, skills, and confidence to actively participate in society, improve their health and living conditions, and contribute to economic development. This came as the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar in Geneva, in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Geneva, the Qatar Debate Center, and the Geneva Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, organised a side event titled 'Unlearning Discrimination: Education for Empowering Women and Girls,' on the sidelines of the 59th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. In her opening remarks, Dr Al Muftah emphasized that education is a fundamental and pivotal human right. It enables individuals to develop essential skills and provides a platform through which other rights can be claimed, enjoyed, and protected. She noted that women's empowerment is directly linked to education, as it opens doors to employment, enhances their ability to make sound health decisions, participate in public life and decision-making, and advocate for their rights and interests. page 2
Qatar Tribune
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Education is a transformative tool for women and girls, says Al Muftah
QNA Geneva The Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar in Geneva, in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Geneva, the Qatar Debate Centre, and the Geneva Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, organised a side event titled 'Unlearning Discrimination: Education for Empowering Women and Girls,' on the sidelines of the 59th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. In her opening remarks, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Office in Geneva HE Dr. Hend Abdulrahman Al Muftah emphasised that education is a fundamental and pivotal human right. It enables individuals to develop essential skills and provides a platform through which other rights can be claimed, enjoyed, and protected. She explained that education is a transformative tool for women and girls, equipping them with knowledge, skills, and confidence to actively participate in society, improve their health and living conditions, and contribute to economic development. She noted that women's empowerment is directly linked to education, as it opens doors to employment, enhances their ability to make sound health decisions, participate in public life and decision-making, and advocate for their rights and interests. She expressed concern over the alarming global statistics that reflect a significant gap in educational opportunities between girls and boys, pointing out that only 66 percent of countries have achieved gender parity in primary education, 45 percent in lower secondary, and just 25 percent in upper secondary education. The permanent representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva renewed the call for immediate action to accelerate international efforts to enhance the enjoyment of all human rights by women and girls, foremost among them the right to quality, comprehensive, effective, and unrestricted education. She affirmed that the State of Qatar is one of the leading supporters of the right to education, giving it top priority both nationally and internationally, highlighting key initiatives led by Qatar, including UN General Assembly Resolution 74/275, which proclaimed the International Day to Protect Education from Attack. She added that Qatar was among the first countries to sign the Safe Schools Declaration in 2015, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to protecting education, especially in conflict and crisis zones. Al Muftah noted that Qatar's educational efforts are not limited to easily accessible groups but extend to the most vulnerable populations, such as children in emergencies and conflict situations. She praised the pioneering role of the Education Above All Foundation, noting that its Educate A Child program has successfully implemented projects in 50 countries in cooperation with 82 partners, enrolling more than 19 million out-of-school children. Speakers in the panel discussions, attended by over 70 officials representing diplomatic missions, relevant international and regional organisations, and civil society organisations concerned with education, family, and development, affirmed that education is not merely a basic right but a true catalyst for change, especially for girls and women, as it opens doors to opportunity, safeguards dignity, and enables full participation in society.
