The Qatar Mediation Forum kicked off in Dohaon Monday with the attendance of senior diplomats and policymakers from around the world, aiming to explore the challenges facing mediators, exchange views, address sensitive issues, and work on their development.
In the forum’s opening session, HE Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of the UN on Public-Private Partnerships and Islamic Social Finance Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Muraikhi said that Qatar, under the guidance of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, has been and continues to lead mediation efforts on numerous international fronts.
He added that Qatar has demonstrated a high capability in dealing with the challenges associated with mediation, creating opportunities for practitioners and academics to engage with various issues related to negotiation and mediation, and linking them to the broader social and humanitarian context. He pointed out that this forum comes at a time when active armed conflicts around the world have reached their highest level since World War II, indicating that the nature of these conflicts has evolved, with battlefields expanding to include civilian-populated areas.Dr al-Muraikhi emphasised that Qatar has adopted innovative approaches to successful mediations and conflict resolution at all levels, either by directly intervening as a mediator in some conflicts, hosting peace agreement negotiations, or supporting research and innovation fields that explore new horizons and strive to create solutions to facilitate mediators’ tasks and help communities overcome the devastating effects of war and conflict.
The forum also aims to provide a platform for prominent mediators, diplomats, and policymakers to exchange views on critical global issues, paving the way for continued mediation efforts for both societal and global peace. Director of the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, Dr Ghassan Elkahlout, said that for Qatar, mediation is deeply rooted and part of the state’s constitutional and normative identity, reflecting a belief that dialogue and trust are the cornerstone of sustainable peace.
He added that Qatar has worked over the years to facilitate agreements, foster dialogue, and host platforms like this forum, affirming the conviction that even the most difficult conflicts can benefit from open communication channels.
Dr Elkahlout also mentioned that conflicts are escalating, and peace agreements are becoming increasingly rare, which is concerning, as it not only deepens human suffering but also threatens stability, trapping communities in cycles of violence.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, Martin Griffiths, said that Qatar has been and continues to be a leader in mediation, making significant efforts in Gaza to achieve a ceasefire and serving as a professional mediator in this context.
He emphasised the importance of enhancing international co-operation in mediation amidst the dilemmas facing this field, noting that professional mediation relies on treating all parties equally to achieve the desired goal. The Qatar Mediation Forum 2024 is organised in partnership with the Doha Forum and by the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies, aiming to contribute to the development of Qatar’s strategy to support mediation and enhance capacities in mediation and humanitarian diplomacy within the Arab and Islamic world.
