Qatar’s permanent delegation to the United Nations, and Colombia at the UN headquarters in New York, held a ceremony to launch a book Story: Celebration of Leading Women in the United Nations, prepared by the permanent delegation and Colombia.
The ceremony was attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, president of the United Nations General Assembly’s 72nd session Miroslav Lajcak, and a number of permanent representatives to the UN.
HE Sheikha Alia bint Ahmed al-Thani, Qatar’s permanent representative to the UN, said that Qatar’s participation in the achievement of this book is an appreciation of the leading role women play in the United Nations and an opportunity to reflect important achievements through historical narratives.
The ambassador noted that Qatar is a founding member of the Group of Friends for Gender Parity and its sponsor of the historical HakayaPhotographic Exhibition on the leading role of women in the international organisation, held in December 2016.
The book provides a historical reciting of the role of leading women in the United Nations since its inception in 1945.
The book lists the role of some women in the Arab and Islamic region, including HE Sheikha Hessa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, who is the first woman appointed by the UN as special rapporteur for persons with disabilities in 2003 and her mandate was extended from 2005 to 2009, and now she is special envoy of the secretary-general of the Arab League for Humanitarian Affairs.
It also provided a historical reciting of the impact and role of women in advancing women’s empowerment, gender equality in employment and decision-making at the highest levels of the UN.
The book is a testimony of the contributions made by women in the reformulation of the United Nations, the promotion of the role of women in various fields and the holding of senior leadership positions in the organisation.
