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Qatar on Monday took part in the fifth EU-Arab World Summit ‘A Strategic Partnership’, held virtually from November 9-10. HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi represented Qatar at the meeting. Addressing the meeting, HE al-Muraikhi said that the conference is being held while the world is facing serious challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic and which represents a global challenge and confirms the reality of the common destiny, not only for the Arab and European nations, but for all of humanity, noting that the coronavirus pandemic has had negative impacts on the economy, the commercial movement between countries, the movement of people across the world, and also the loss of many human lives. Al-Muraikhi underlined the belief of Qatar that the countries of the Arab and European groups, with their common legacy of exchange, communication and strong historical ties, have solid foundations to provide role models for constructive partnerships. He valued the keenness to hold the EU-Arab World Summit, and commended the slogan of its fifth edition “A Strategic Partnership” which addresses the current situation, expresses the need of the peoples of the Arab and the European worlds at this stage, more than ever before, and contributes to the collective building of the future, noting that this requires achieving a qualitative transformation in the joint co-operation in pursuit of achieving the joint interests. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs underlined that the establishment of a strategic partnership between the Arab and the European worlds is a necessity imposed by the current political, economic, security and other challenges, which is in line with the policy of Qatar and one of the priorities sought by the State through joint action and contribution to solidarity, integration, co-operation and regional and global peace building. He noted that the desired strategic partnership between the Arab and the European worlds provides an opportunity to exchange benefits, experiences and interests between people, and to expand investments, which would contribute to achieving stability and development, and strengthening co-operation between the Arab and the European regions. This calls for enacting legislation that guarantees protection and insurance for investments and partnerships between all parties, combating corruption and consolidating transparency, al-Muraikhi said, stressing that legislation and the commitment to them by states represents the first guarantor for building a viable strategic partnership to achieve the desired goals. In this context, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs renewed the call on officials in the Hellenic Republic and all friendly countries in the European Union to contribute to resolving armed conflicts and strengthening international development aid to assist developing countries; and to sign bilateral agreements between various Arab and European countries to enhance investments and economic, commercial, educational and cultural relations. He noted that the prospects for the Arab-European co-operation should not be limited to economy, trade, culture or tourism.  Rather, these relations should be translated into serious and continuous political co-ordination on various issues including peoples’ rights, confronting terrorism and others. Al-Muraikhi said that the Arab region faces many challenges, foremost of which is the Palestinian issue and the ongoing crises in Syria, Yemen and Libya, and looked forward to the European Union in having a tangible role in solving these issues. He underlined that the phenomenon of terrorism is inconsistent with all laws, religions and human values, and reiterated Qatar’s categorical rejection of this phenomenon and its condemnation of all forms and manifestations, whatever their causes or motives, stressing the joint responsibility to confront this abhorrent phenomenon and address its real social, political, cultural or other causes.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) is receiving applications from Qatar’s digital content community for World Summit Award (WSA) 2017. Reem al-Mansoori, assistant undersecretary, Digital Society Development, MoTC, is the expert spearheading the nomination process for Qatar. Individuals, public and private entities, companies, universities, NGOs and other institutions are invited to join the competition by submitting their best digital content until May 15. Submissions for the WSA can contain all mobile and web-based applications, including apps, web pages, applications for wearable, kiosk installations, SMS-based products, mobile games and interactive mobile productions. There is no limitation regarding the platforms or channels the projects work with. All submitted products must have been completed after January 1, 2015. The competition, which is free, aims at recognising and honouring national efforts for developing interactive digital content that contributes to the social and economic development of Qatar as well as facilitating the transformation into a knowledge-based society. “The contest is a great opportunity to recognise the e-content created in Qatar and around the world. We invite all individuals and agencies with outstanding e-content to apply for the competition to represent Qatar and to be recognised and honoured at national and global levels,” said al-Mansoori. The award includes eight categories: government and citizen engagement, health and well-being, learning and education, environment and green energy, culture and tourism, smart settlements and urbanisation, business and commerce and inclusion and empowerment. The national expert will nominate one product for each of the eight categories. Individuals and agencies with great digital content are invited to submit their entries to MOTC via e-mail: [email protected] to be considered for nomination. After the national pre-selection period, a jury of experts will come together to evaluate the submissions and select the 40 best products from hundreds of national nominations. Forty WSA winners will get the chance to present their products at the WSA World Congress.

Artistes performing at a cultural show at the opening ceremony of the 13th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil By Pratap John/Chief Business Reporter HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani has stressed the need for “domestic stability” to achieve economic and social development, attract and encourage investment as well as promote international trade, referring to the “Arab Spring” in some regional countries. “Instability in some Arab countries, which is reflected by what is called the Arab Spring uprisings, were not only caused by poverty, unemployment among youth, and disparity in regional development in most cases, but also by other reasons, namely, oppression and suppression policies, lack of popular participation in economic and social decision-making, corruption, lack of equal opportunities, and enriching a small group of regimes’ figures and big businessmen at the expense of the majority of the people,” the Emir said in his opening address at the 13th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) in Doha yesterday. “It has been proved that the economic policies driven by the short-term political interest of rulers, and those motivated by the economic interests of their entourage, and not by the interests of the state and society are catastrophic policies with disastrous consequences. Internal stability cannot be achieved under such conditions, since its realisation requires enabling the peoples to express their choices and aspirations in a free manner and respect all their legitimate rights. “We hope that after the difficult transitional stages, the Arab countries would make their economic choices based on democratic options that would be in favour of the states, communities and the region, and have positive impacts on the global level. HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser meeting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of Unctad  XIII in Doha. PICTURE: Maher Attar / HHOPL “But before that, the transitional stages must be organised on the basis of principles agreed upon by the effective social political forces so as to lead the Arab Spring countries to safety and make them a role model for others. They need our economic assistance and support in the transitional stages that precede the achievement of these economic plans. “The Arab peoples took to the streets for their dignity and freedom, and they paid, and are still paying dearly for them. We are confident that great nations with such a determination would achieve their objectives and usher in their aspired future,” the Emir said. The success of development efforts and the evolution of relations of commercial cooperation between different countries require the availability of a global climate where justice, security and stability prevail, because the worsening of the tension and conflicts, and the lingering of a number of international issues without final settlement pose a great hindrance to achieving peace and development. The Emir expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the General Secretariat of the Organisation of Unctad to achieve its lofty goals and for its effort in co-ordinating with Qatar to prepare for the conference and seek its success. “I am pleased to point out here that Doha has become an important venue for conferences that seek to promote development at the global level, and this reflects the consistent interest of Qatar in development issues worldwide. “Qatar hosted the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organisation in 2001, which was the beginning of the so-called Doha Round, which put forward an ambitious working programme to strengthen the role of trade in the development process. It also hosted the 2nd Summit Conference of the G-77 plus China, which was held in 2005. “We meet today at the 13th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, which is held during events that posed numerous and significant economic and political challenges and crises in the world after the Unctad XII held in Accra, Ghana in 2008.” 

Qatar has won at the World Summit Awards 2021 in the government & citizen engagement category through the Tasmu platform, which is the basis for the digital infrastructure of Smart Qatar. The Tasmu platform was selected among 40 winners (five for each of the eight award categories) announced by the award office out of a total of 800 nominations from more than 100 countries participating in the award, Qatar News Agency reported. This platform will allow for the collection of and analysis of information at the national level to develop joint smart solutions that contribute to improving people's daily lives. The work of the Tasmu platform is "based on cloud computing technology to provide services at the national level to all State institutions, the private sector and developers to store and analyse big data and link it to a set of comprehensive technical solutions such as electronic payment systems, geographic information system, weather and traffic monitoring systems, as well as enabling them to benefit from the capabilities of 5G technology, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and others, to be the beating heart of all smart services and solutions provided in Qatar", according to a press statement. The Tasmu platform performs three important functions. The first is its role in promoting direct communication between government institutions, companies and individuals working in various sectors and harmonising their efforts, while the second is its role in providing modern technologies to workers in the public and private sectors to develop their smart solutions and applications that meet national KPIs. The third function is to store and analyse data at the national level. These three functions support the achievement of the long-term goals of the Smart Qatar Tasmu Programme launched by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), as a digital response to Qatar National Vision 2030. It also contributes to developing government performance, supporting joint work between different sectors, raising the quality of products, maintaining the sustainability of resources, and providing an integrated experience for users to simplify the performance of tasks, facilitate access to services and overcome obstacles to ensure a better life for the individual and society. On this occasion, HE Reem al-Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Society Development at the MCIT, said: “This recognition is a testament to Qatar’s commitment to be a leading smart country. We are proud to see that the Tasmu platform has been selected out of many renowned initiatives. The technology enables us to reach our goals of social progress, economic growth and environmental change. The platform enables the government agencies and businesses work collaboratively to deliver smart solutions to our citizens and visitors.” The eight award categories for WSA 2021 are government & citizen engagement, health & wellbeing, environment & green energy, business & commerce, learning & education, culture & tourism, smart settlements & urbanisation, and inclusion & empowerment. A national pre-selection committee formed by the local expert for the World Summit Awards in Qatar, HE al-Mansoori, evaluated the works submitted and selected the finalist for each award category to represent Qatar at the global level. The winning projects will be invited to the WSA Global Congress, taking place as a virtual event from March 22-24, Hack the Gap.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) has invited applications at the national level for the World Summit Awards (WSA) 2020. "Companies, institutions and individuals across the country can submit their best digital content applications to compete in eight award categories, with winners representing Qatar at the world level. Applications will be accepted until July 16, 2020," a MoTC statement said. The WSA selects and promotes the world’s best start-ups in digital content and innovative applications that are having a significant impact on improving society. Combining an ongoing series of international events and activities with a global network of start-ups, social entrepreneurs, mentors, jurors, speakers, experts, government leaders, academics and civil society, WSA raises awareness and gives recognition to the best e-content produced around the world. The eight award categories are: government and citizen engagement, health and wellbeing, environment and green energy, business and commerce, learning and education, culture and tourism, smart settlements and urbanisation, and inclusion and empowerment. A local jury, chaired by the official national expert for WSA in Qatar, Reem al-Mansoori, MoTC Assistant Undersecretary of Digital Society Development Affairs, will assess the submissions and select one qualified project for each category to represent Qatar. The international selection process involves four stages from local country selection to a global shortlist of five projects per category and finally the announcement of the winners. Jury panel consists of renowned international experts. Winners will be invited to the WSA Global Congress where they will pitch their projects to an international on-site panel. All submissions must be no more than two years old (after January 1, 2018) when submitted to the competition. And they may include applications that offer useful, high quality, innovative digital content such as webpages, interactive and SMS-based products. Submitted projects should be real ventures that are already up and running. Incomplete trial versions will not be accepted. All work must be free of offensive or plagiarised content and may not violate human rights as laid out in the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Submissions that encourage war, violence or discrimination will not be accepted. Similarly, submissions that violate international copyright provisions will be excluded. Interested candidates are invited to send detailed information on their work to MoTC via email: [email protected].

Government officials from several countries reviewed the key challenges and consequences affecting the social conditions of youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and families around the world. They emphasized the importance of integrating these groups, the necessity of providing them with support, working to promote sustainable development, and finding optimal solutions to address all the problems they face. This came during the opening session of the third day of the Second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha, which discussed the global social situation of youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and families. His Excellency Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda Robinah Nabbanja, stressed the importance of improving living standards for all, implementing a model development plan, and executing national policies to strengthen the social protection system to safeguard workers' rights, empower women and youth, and integrate people with disabilities into the labor market. In her address, she discussed key measures and plans implemented by the Republic of Uganda to promote sustainable development and innovation. She noted that the outbreak of wars and the escalation of crises and conflicts are among the main reasons for the slowdown in economic growth and the impediment to sustainable development. For her part,Minister of Social Affairs and Labor of the Syrian Arab Republic Hind Kabawat, stated that her country's recovery requires confronting numerous challenges due to the significant losses Syria has suffered throughout the years of war. She reviewed the most notable efforts undertaken by the new Syrian government to promote sustainable development, integrate people with disabilities, and support and empower youth and women. She revealed that the new administration in Syria inherited state institutions in a deplorable state, with many social services failing to provide services to the Syrian people and falling short of their aspirations. She emphasized the importance of promoting inclusivity and adopting methodologies and mechanisms that uphold individual rights and enhance justice and equal opportunities. For his part, the Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs of the Republic of Barbados, Kirk Humphrey, underscored the importance of strengthening community partnerships, prioritizing sustainable development, implementing the concept of social protection on the ground, providing decent work for young people and protecting their labor rights, and integrating people with disabilities into society. He discussed his country's main efforts to address challenges decisively, which require a strong multilateral system, noting that wars and conflicts constantly threaten to undermine the gains achieved and hinder the realization of the goals. Meanwhile, the Minister for the Promotion of Youth, Professional Integration, and Civic Service of the Republic of Cote D'Ivoire Mamadou Toure, stated that the theme of the Second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha, reflects the necessity of taking action to reduce poverty, promote social justice, and protect the most vulnerable groups. He pointed out that since 1995 World Summit for Social Development (WSSD) in Copenhagen, Cote D'Ivoire has implemented numerous measures to reduce poverty and has placed this goal at the heart of its public policies. Several other officials during the opening session also stressed the need to eradicate poverty, enhance sustainable development, improve infrastructure such as health and education, ensure access to healthcare, achieve social justice for youth, and empower women. They emphasized that this summit brings together experts and policymakers to build a more inclusive world and address existing gaps, reaffirming their commitment to the Doha Political Declaration and the Copenhagen Declaration to strengthen development and social protection, eradicate poverty, boost productivity, and promote decent work for all. Officials from countries affected by wars and conflicts also shared the key measures their governments have taken to address the impacts of these crises, which have led to increased poverty, unemployment, and the loss of essential services for many communities.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani is set to participate in the G20 Summit, to be held in Johannesburg later today, following a written message sent by President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa to HH the Amir that included an invitation to participate in the summit.The invitation reflects the prominent role of the State of Qatar continues to strengthen its presence on the global stage through its active role in mediation and conflict resolution, in addition to its advanced position in the energy sector, especially natural gas. Supported by a policy based on strategic planning and a balanced diplomatic approach, the State of Qatar has emerged as a trusted party, thanks to its well-thought-out strategy and balanced diplomacy.His Highness had taken part in the 19th G20 Summit in 2024 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which was held under the slogan "Building a just world and a sustainable planet." The participation of His Highness received significant attention, reflecting Qatar's standing and the appreciation of its positive and effective role regionally and internationally, as well as its ongoing contributions to peace, development, and serving the causes of peoples around the world.The G20 was established in 1999 following the Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998 as an informal forum for finance ministers and central bank governors of major industrialized and developing economies to discuss international economic and financial stability. The forum initially focused heavily on general macroeconomic issues but has since expanded its agenda to include trade, climate change, sustainable development, health, agriculture, energy, the environment, and combating corruption.The forum includes 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States, in addition to the European Union and the African Union.G20 members represent about 85 percent of global GDP, more than 75 percent of global trade, and roughly two-thirds of the world's population.Qatar's participation for the second consecutive year in this global summit affirms international recognition of its growing role regionally and internationally with respect to major security, political, and economic issues. Doha is seriously engaged in a number of globally strategic files.The international community's praise for the success achieved by Qatar and other concerned countries in reaching an agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip stands as a high tribute to Qatar's wise leadership.The State of Qatar plays a pivotal role in supporting multilateral efforts to end different conflicts. This affirms its commitment to the principle of resolving conflicts peacefully through dialogue, preventative diplomacy, and mediation as a priority for its foreign policy. This is considered a constitutional commitment for the State of Qatar.The State of Qatar's participation in the G20 Summit will undoubtedly be an important contribution to the summit's economic agenda, as Qatar is a major global player in the international energy market due to its vast natural gas reserves, possessing the third-largest reserves in the world, and is among the most important gas exporters thanks to its fleet of Liquefied natural gas (LNG) export vessels and its expertise in exploration and gas production investment. In parallel, Qatar continues to strengthen its efforts to achieve economic diversification and attract foreign investment while developing advanced infrastructure including airports, ports, roads, bridges, tunnels, and various facilities. It also supports innovation, creativity, technological development, adopting the latest artificial intelligence developments, and cybersecurity requirements for national protection, thus serving as a global model in its aspirations and goals. Regarding global forums and international activities, Doha has consistently hosted major international political, economic, security, cultural, and sporting events, most notably the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. It also organizes global economic forums to promote dialogue and cooperation, such as the annual Qatar Economic Forum, an important platform bringing together global economic leaders to discuss challenges and shape solutions, aiming to reinforce Qatar's position as a trusted partner in energy and diplomacy. In early November of this year, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani graciously patronized the opening of the Second World Summit for Social Development 2025, held to address shared global challenges such as environmental and climate issues, poverty, displacement, and human rights. In his opening address, His Highness stressed the need to translate the commitments made by states in the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development into tangible reality by addressing implementation gaps and prioritizing innovative solutions, effective partnerships, and persistent efforts to carry out the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. His Highness also referred to the Doha Declaration, adopted at the summit, as the product of dedicated and intensive work and consultations previously held in New York, and as an ambitious document aimed at achieving social development. All the regional and international political and economic efforts and roles Qatar plays across various arenas, along with the rich record of flexible and successful diplomacy pursued by its leadership, have placed the State of Qatar among the pivotal nations with respected strategic visions and the appreciation of the international community.

The State of Qatar highlighted its efforts to advance social development, strengthen women's empowerment and protect children's rights at the United Nations on Wednesday, reaffirming its commitment to translating these priorities into national policies and international initiatives.The remarks were delivered by Third Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Amina Abdullah Salat during meetings of the Third Committee of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, where she addressed agenda items on social development, the advancement of women, and the promotion and protection of the rights of children.On social development, she underscored Qatar's longstanding commitment to advancing the global social development agenda, highlighting the country's record of hosting major UN conferences, including the Second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha in November 2025. The Summit brought together world leaders three decades after the first World Summit for Social Development was convened in Copenhagen.She underscored the significance of the Doha Political Declaration as a key outcome that provides renewed impetus to advancing issues under consideration by the Third Committee, including social development, quality education and decent work for all. She noted that the Secretary-General's report under the agenda item recognizes the Doha Political Declaration, together with the Copenhagen Declaration, as providing an enhanced framework for accelerating progress on social development and advancing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.She noted that Qatar has made significant progress across the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030, adding that the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030 sets the framework for the next phase of the country's development and its efforts to advance the objectives and aspirations of the National Vision.She also highlighted the National Strategy of the Ministry of Social Development and Family 2025-2030, under the theme "From Care to Empowerment," as an integrated framework for advancing social policies and programs. The strategy seeks to strengthen family support, empower women, enhance the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities, and support older persons.On the advancement of women, Salat said women's empowerment remains a key national priority for Qatar, reflecting its firm commitment to promoting and protecting women's human rights and recognizing their pivotal role as both contributors to and beneficiaries of the country's development process.She underscored that enhancing women's participation across all spheres of life is a cornerstone of Qatar National Vision 2030, which places strong emphasis on women's empowerment and capacity-building.She added that Qatar's Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030 places particular emphasis on raising awareness of and recognizing women's contributions across society.She noted that Qatar's efforts to advance women's status and empowerment extend beyond the national level, with the country spearheading initiatives aimed at advancing women's rights internationally. In this regard, she highlighted Qatar's leading role in the international efforts that culminated in the adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution 75/274, which proclaimed March 10 as the International Day of Women Judges. The resolution was adopted in April 2021.On the promotion and protection of children's rights, Salat said Qatar had taken significant steps to safeguard and advance children's rights, in line with its commitment to investing in human development and nurturing future generations equipped to learn, grow and participate meaningfully in society.She noted that Qatar had adopted a range of legislative and executive measures across various fields and sectors to strengthen the protection of children's rights and fulfill its commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.She noted that Qatar is among the leading donors to the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, with total contributions reaching $2.3 million between 2018 and 2026. Qatar also provides multi-year support to UNICEF, with total contributions amounting to approximately $28 million between 2019 and 2026.Salat stressed that Qatar's sustained support reflects its firm conviction in the pivotal role of such partnerships in strengthening collective action to promote and protect the rights and well-being of every child.She reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to advancing social development, empowering women and protecting children's rights, and expressed its readiness to further constructive cooperation with the international community in pursuit of shared objectives in these areas. 

President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock stressed that Qatar’s support for the the United Nations is a leading example, praising the country’s role as an international mediator in conflict resolution and its active contribution to social development. In statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Baerbock explained that the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha underscores the need to move from promises to implementation through concrete action in areas such as education, employment, and social justice, thus contributing to achieving social benefits and healthcare for all people. She highlighted the importance of promoting social development and achieving global justice, noting significant progress in certain economic and social indicators despite ongoing challenges in other parts of the world. President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly said that the unemployment rate in Qatar stands at around 1%, while in some other countries it reaches 30%, reflecting the persistent gap among nations in benefiting from the fruits of social development. She stressed that failure to address crises such as hunger exacerbates displacement and migration, emphasising the need to break this vicious cycle by working on the three main pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, social development, and human rights. Baerbock added that the summit aims to accelerate progress toward achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that all goals are interconnected and cannot be achieved in isolation, especially amid global climate challenges that affect food security. She also pointed to the importance of linking the Doha Summit with the Climate Change Conference to be held in the Amazonian city of Belem, Brazil, and the role of nationally determined commitments in reducing carbon emissions. She affirmed that investment in renewable energy benefits strong economies and enhances their competitiveness. The president of the UN General Assembly emphasised the importance of international co-operation to achieve social justice, explaining that global challenges know no borders, and that the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated the necessity of international collaboration in providing vaccines and addressing health crises. In conclusion, the President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock told QNA that supporting UN agencies, including the World Food Programme, is vital to preventing hunger and human suffering in countries such as Sudan, stressing that immediate funding and support are essential to ensuring a dignified life for people around the world.

Represented by the Ministry of Social Development and Family, the State of Qatar is participating in the Arab Forum for Sustainable Development, held in Beirut, Lebanon, from April 14-16, 2025.The forum is organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), with the participation of ministers and high-level officials from various Arab countries, as well as representatives of United Nations organizations, civil society, and the private sector.HE Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi led the State of Qatar's delegation at the forum, which is being held in preparation for the Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled to be held in Doha in November. This reflects Qatar's unwavering commitment to the principles of fair and comprehensive development and to strengthening joint Arab action to address the social and economic challenges in the region.On the sidelines of the forum, HE the Minister of Social Development and Family met with HE Minister of Social Affairs of the Republic of Lebanon Haneen Al Sayed. The two sides discussed opportunities for bilateral cooperation and the exchange of experiences in the areas of protecting vulnerable groups, responding to crises, empowering women, and supporting development efforts in the social and economic contexts.Her Excellency also met with HE Minister of Social Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic Hind Kabawat. The two sides discussed the importance of exchanging expertise in developing social policies, enhancing community protection, and economic empowerment for the most vulnerable groups, thus enhancing Arab countries' response to common social challenges.This participation is part of Qatar's active efforts to prepare for hosting the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha. The summit aims to reshape a new international vision that reaffirms the social dimension of development and promotes more inclusive, equitable, and flexible models in light of current global changes.

Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief Affairs of the State of Palestine Dr. Samah Hamad emphasized that the State of Qatar, under the leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, represents a pioneering model of Moral and humanitarian commitment toward Palestine, defending the legitimate political, humanitarian, and developmental rights of its people.In an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. Samah Hamad said that the continuous support and genuine partnership with the State of Qatar are highly appreciated, as they embody the depth of Arab solidarity and a unified stance in defending Palestinian rights.She explained that Palestine's participation in the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha aligns with its commitment to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, with a focus on social protection and ensuring human dignity.The participation aims to highlight the unprecedented social challenges faced by Palestinian families under occupation and to develop innovative solutions to provide social protection and justice for Palestinian households, she added.Regarding the hosting of the Summit in the State of Qatar, she noted its significant implications, as Qatar is recognized for investing in human and social development and for successfully combining economic growth with social justice, strengthening its role as a hub for Arab dialogue on development.The Palestinian Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief Affairs underlined that the State of Qatar plays an influential role in supporting social protection programs, education, healthcare, and humanitarian response during crises. She noted that this support has contributed to enhancing the resilience of Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank through initiatives for orphans and low-income families, and through development programs implemented in cooperation with the Qatari government, Qatar Charity, and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD).The Palestinian Ministry of Social Development collaborates with Qatari institutions, the United Nations, and civil society to ensure the sustainability of social protection programs through data exchange and a national social registry, ensuring coordination and avoiding duplication in aid delivery, while emphasizing economic empowerment, employment programs, and social and educational services, she added.Regarding the challenges facing Palestine, Dr. Samah Hamad explained that the ministry continues to provide emergency humanitarian, food, and cash assistance to families affected by war and occupation, including orphans, persons with disabilities, and the elderly, alongside implementing psychosocial support programs for children and affected families and activating a joint government operations room to coordinate relief efforts and ensure aid reaches all governorates, including isolated areas in Gaza.She also stressed the importance of building an integrated social solidarity network combining civil society, governments, and donor countries to strengthen social protection for the most vulnerable groups. She added that the issue of orphans remains among the most urgent, with continuous development of care, shelter, protection, and education centers for children in need, alongside unifying orphan data nationally to ensure integration and prevent duplication.On the summit's contribution to enhancing Arab integration, she said that it represents an opportunity to strengthen Arab cooperation in the social field, exchange experiences, and launch collective Arab initiatives to support countries affected by conflicts and crises, foremost among them Palestine, ensuring the protection of human dignity and promoting comprehensive development.Dr. Samah Hamad concluded the interview by expressing deep appreciation to the State of Qatar, its leadership and people, for its ongoing support of the Palestinian people at humanitarian, developmental, and political levels, while affirming Palestine's aspiration to continue expanding partnership with Qatar to strengthen Palestinian people's resilience and preserve their human dignity.

Social and humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon will be at the forefront of the agenda of the 44th session of the Council of Arab Ministers for Social Affairs at the ministerial level, to commence in Bahrain on Tuesday and spanning for two days.In a statement on Sunday, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Social Affairs Sector at the Arab League Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazaleh said that social and humanitarian conditions in Gaza and Lebanon will be a priority for the Council's discussions due to the inhuman practices of Israel, the occupying power.The Ambassador added that this is part of an effort to alleviate the difficult social and humanitarian conditions in Gaza and other occupied territories, along with ways to continue providing social and humanitarian support in Lebanon.Abu Ghazaleh said that the Council will also discuss several priority issues for joint Arab social and developmental work, including topics related to multidimensional poverty, social policies, persons with disabilities, the elderly, as well as family and child affairs, putting forward joint strategies, programs, and initiatives.The Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Social Affairs Sector at the Arab League said that setting the social affairs dossier for the upcoming Arab Summit will take a significant part of the Council's agenda, in addition to setting Arab position vis-a-vis the agendas of the Second World Summit for Social Development and the Global Disability Summit in line with Arab priorities.Abu Ghazaleh said that the meeting of the Council at the level of Senior Officials, which began Sunday and will run for two days, is working on draft resolutions and proposals to be presented to the Arab Social Affairs Ministers for appropriate action, in the pursuit of strengthening joint Arab social and developmental efforts and supporting Arab countries implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.