Shura participates in dialogue on violence against women and girls

The Shura Council participated in a dialogue session titled ‘The Arab Declaration Against All Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls’, organised by the Coalition of Women Parliamentarians from Arab Countries to Combat Violence against Women, in collaboration with the Algerian National Assembly.Sheikha bint Yousuf al-Jufairi, a member of the Shura Council, represented the council in the session, which took place in Jordan over two days both in-person and via videoconferencing. The session addressed legislative measures and legal actions to protect women and girls, ensuring their access to justice when subjected to violence and ensuring that perpetrators of violence against them do not escape punishment. It also discussed mechanisms to eliminate violence against women and girls, prevent it, and tackle it with political and societal will, while sharing positive experiences and practices in this field.During her intervention, Sheikha bint Yousuf al-Jufairi emphasised that Qatar was one of the first countries to support the Arab Declaration Against All Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls, believing that combating this phenomenon is a collective responsibility that requires co-operation between governments, legislative bodies, and civil society.She noted Qatar’s strong commitment to women and enhancing their participation in various sectors, pointing to the laws and policies established to protect women’s rights and prevent discrimination against them. Al-Jufairi reaffirmed the Shura Council’s commitment to monitoring the implementation of such legislation and supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s rights and roles.It is worth noting that the Arab League launched the Arab Declaration Against All Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls on Dec. 5, 2022, which represents a moral commitment to building a society free from all forms of violence against women and girls in the Arab world. Additionally, the Shura Council, represented by Sheikha al-Jufairi, participated via videoconferencing in the general and administrative meeting of the Coalition of Women Parliamentarians from Arab Countries to Combat Violence against Women.The meeting reviewed, among other agenda items, the annual report of the Coalition’s activities for 2024, future plans and programmes, as well as a number of organisational issues concerning the work of both bodies.