Qatar has stressed the importance of creating a favourable environment
for encouraging science, innovation and dissemination of technologies,
and for promoting access to all Information and Communications
Technology’s (ICT) services for the benefit of all sectors of society,
especially women, youth and children.
This came in a statement delivered by the Third Secretary of the
Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, Ahmed
Seif al-Kuwari, befo 1:09:53 AMre the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly
on item 16: ‘Information and Communications Technologies for
Development.’
The meeting reflects the continued interest of the international
community in the ICT as a central element in achieving the of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals and a unique opportunity to
develop communities, eradicate poverty and promote the three pillars of
the Sustainable Development so as no one is left behind.
Aslo, it pointed out that the Sustainable Development plan and the Addis
Ababa Action Agenda have paid attention to the issue of ICT and its
role in stimulating economic growth and sustainable development.
Qatar pays particular attention to taking advantage of the enormous
potential of ICT services and the investment in them, and views them as
essential elements for moving towards sustainable development, al-Kuwari
said in the statement. In this context, the statement added, Qatar has
taken great strides in building an ICT sector that benefits all sections
of the society, pointing out that the Ministry of Information and
Communications Technology (ictQATAR) plays an important role in this
field.
It (ictQATAR), among many other issues, conducts annual studies to
measure progress made in its overall ICT goals and formulates relevant
policies and programmes as well as expand the provision of advanced
services on the Internet.
Moreover, the statement said that Qatar Science and Technology Park
(QSTP) is part of the research and development wing at Qatar Foundation
for Education, Science, and Community Development and is the main
platform for technology development’s projects that seeks to support
research, innovation and pioneering spirit.
The statement also referred to Qatar Assistive Technology Center (Mada),
which is a non-profit organisation striving to empower and enable
people with disabilities through Information and Communication
Technology and enable them to communicate, learn life skills and engage
in education and work.
Furthermore, the statement highlighted that the recognition of the
importance of ICT has been reflected in the classification of Qatar
among the first states in the world on various indicators mentioned in
the World Economic Forum’s Global Information Technology Report 2016, as
it ranked third in the world in the laws relating to ICTs.
The statement warned that the cybercrimes and piracy constitute a large
percentage of the crimes that threaten international peace and security
and raise serious concern among the international community. This
phenomenon, the statement said, must be dealt with in a manner
commensurate with its seriousness and that measures should be taken not
only by banning and punishing those involved in piracy for political or
personal gain, but dealing with it as a major source of threat to
international peace and security.
In the same context, information obtained through piracy must be
prohibited and considered to be of no legal value, and therefore the
states affected by cybercrimes have the right to obtain their rights
under international law, according to the statement.
In conclusion, the statement said that the State of Qatar is subjected
to unilateral illegal measures that were premeditated with cybercrime to
achieve political objectives that violate the principles of
international law, international relations and human rights.
It stressed that the misuse of information technology to achieve
political objectives, impose illegal measures against states and violate
their sovereignty, impose guardianship and intervene in their internal
affairs are flagrant violations of international law.
Such illegal practices harm the states that are subjected to arbitrary
measures, violate the rights of their people and national security, and
distort their image, which requires the international community to stand
up against these violations.
