Qatar is supporting civil society groups: minister

Qatar is giving full support to civil society organisations dealing with human rights, humanitarian work, economic, social and development work, HE the Minister for Administrative Development and Labour and Social Affairs Dr Issa Saad al-Juffali al-Nuaimi said yesterday.
He was speaking at the plenary session on “Sustainable Development Agenda in 2030 - Prospects of Implementation,” held as part of the Arab Conference on “The Role of Civil Society in the Arab Region in Implementing 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” which started in Doha.
Al-Nuaimi said hosting the conference was a clear example of the partnership between civil society groups and the Qatari government.
He said partnership between the government and civil society organisations were important in achieving strategic development goals.
In this context, the minister said civil society organisations needed to be empowered to enable them to carry out their roles.
Poverty, weak education, poor healthcare, the failure of donor countries to fulfil their obligations towards the developing and least developed countries and the lack of political stability and security are the most important challenges facing the Arab region, the minister said, stressing that development cannot be achieved without the consolidation of peace and stability.
The session, which was moderated by Bader al-Dafa, the Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), saw extensive discussions about the 2030 sustainable development agenda and the mechanisms needed to accomplish them in the Arab region.
Earlier, the conference on the Role of Civil Society started at the Qatar National Convention Centre.
The conference is organised by Qatar Social Work Foundation (QSWF) in partnership with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the ESCWA, UN Population Fund (UNPF), the Arab League and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).
Over 200 participants representing local and international civil society organisations are attending event
In her opening remarks, QSWF chief Munira bint Nasser al-Misnad said the key pillars of the new sustainable development agenda focused on making the world free of poverty and disease and at the same time capable of handling anything that can undermine the dignity of individuals.
The implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has seen little progress in the region and encountered many delays, she said, adding that the ongoing demographic, political and economic events in the region will not only delay the development progress but will also affect the region as a whole.