Search - World Summit for Social Development

The State of Qatar participated in the high-level side event titled "Delivering Social Rights, Renewing Democracy: From Doha and Chisinau to a New Democratic Pact for Europe," held on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.The State of Qatar was represented at the event by HE Director of the International Organizations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikha Hanouf bint Abdulrahman Al-Thani. In her remarks during the event, Her Excellency emphasized that the State of Qatar’s hosting of the Second World Summit for Social Development demonstrated its firm commitment to supporting multilateral action. She noted that the summit contributed to renewing the international commitment to placing people at the heart of the development process and promoting social justice, solidarity, and international cooperation.Her Excellency also affirmed that the Doha Political Declaration constitutes an important framework for guiding international efforts to translate commitments into concrete action toward achieving development and social justice. This, she noted, contributes to accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and ensuring that no one is left behind. 

The Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva, in cooperation with the Doha International Family Institute (DIFI), organized a side event titled "Family First: A Foundation for Social Development," on the sidelines of the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.The event was attended by more than 71 participants representing diplomatic missions in Geneva, international and regional organizations, and civil society organizations concerned with family and social development issues. HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Office in Geneva, Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah stated in a speech that the event is being held at a pivotal moment as the world faces increasing challenges, noting that its aim is to highlight the central role of the family in driving social development.HE Dr. Hind affirmed that families around the world continue to face serious challenges, including poverty, limited access to productive and decent employment, social exclusion, and the need for protection during armed conflicts.In this context, she pointed out that more than 7,320 families in the Gaza Strip have been completely wiped out or reduced to one or two surviving members as a result of the genocide crimes committed by Israel, the occupying power.HE Dr. Hind stressed that addressing these challenges is essential to achieving comprehensive and sustainable development for all, noting that the progress made since the first World Summit for Social Development still requires further efforts to strengthen support and empowerment of families globally.She referred to the launch by the State of Qatar in June 2025 of the Social Development and Family's Strategy for 2025-2030 under the slogan "From Care to Empowerment," which embodies its firm commitment to enhancing social cohesion through a comprehensive approach that responds to the actual needs of society.She explained that this strategy places families at the heart of national development, recognizing them as a pillar of stability, identity, and resilience, and represents a qualitative leap in Qatar's social development efforts by addressing both current priorities and future aspirations.HE Dr. Hind noted that governments, civil society, and international organizations have a fundamental role in this field, calling for the strengthening of family-supportive policies, enhancing social protection, ensuring access to education and healthcare, and developing inclusive labor markets as practical steps to empower families and help them thrive.

The third Global Islamic Economy Summit (GIES) to be held in Dubai on October 11 and 12 will set a special focus on new forms of Islamic investments and the utilisation of Islamic funds for social and entrepreneurial development. One particularly interesting plenary session will deal with the issue of Islamic charity funds or trusts (waqf) created by philanthropic giving in Muslim communities which experts say remain an underused social development instrument, even a “sleeping giant” in Islamic finance. These funds, in fact, contain significant assets, estimated by some to exceed a value of $500bn annually, capital that in its present form generates low returns and is far from having the desired social impact on the societies it is meant to support. What is waqf? In its traditional form, it is a religious endowment that typically encompasses donating a building or a plot of land for religious or charitable purposes with no intention of reclaiming the assets. Everything that is built on such donated land can be used under usufruct rights or be leased to generate Shariah-compliant income from the charity fund or trust, and this can be used for constructing and operating schools, shelters, hospitals, mosques, roads and other public utilities. That said, waqf can not only be used just in its traditional, real estate-related form, but also in movable form of cash, potentially creating wide-reaching opportunities for “social investment” within the Islamic finance industry through so-called cash-waqf or waqf istithmari, i.e. waqf assets that are intended for investment and can also contain assets from zakat collection. Being traced back to the Ottomans, the concept re-emerged in present days in the 1980 and 1990, for example in form of certificates in Bangladesh where cash was collected from the rich and put into managed funds as registered entities from where gains were distributed among the poor as an alternative to the rather ineffective ways zakat was collected and distributed — but the concept was not widely used elsewhere at that time. The idea was to create “social savings” and transform them into social capital, increase social investment in the process and eventually develop a “social capital market” as a basis for social development for less fortunate parts of the population. Later on, as other Islamic jurisdictions also developed or reinvented the cash-waqf concept, it was transformed further into halal investment schemes that involved shares, takaful, mutual funds, corporate investments and deposits, soon used by investors as niche products of Islamic finance all over the Muslim world across Southeast Asia, South and Central Asia, as well as the Middle East and Africa, with particular prominence in Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Egypt, the GCC countries, Yemen, Turkey, Sudan, the Muslim Balkan states, Muslim communities in India, as well as in Malaysia. To some extent in Indonesia and among Singapore’s Muslims. “It is about harnessing the abundance of underutilised capital for social development,” says Abdul Aziz al-Ghurair, chairman of Dubai-based Al Ghurair Foundation for Education, who will be a keynote speaker at GIES, adding that by adopting innovative investment models, waqf funds can yield far higher returns and thus are able to make stronger social impact. The operational areas to put such returns to use are widespread. The Al Ghurair Foundation utilises them to provide high-achieving, but underserved Arab students with the opportunity to study at a top university. Other foundation use waqf income for healthcare and community development to make poverty alleviation efforts more effective in Muslim communities and advance wealth distribution to low-income people. In the recent past, it has also started to be used as a support for underfunded business communities such as startups and entrepreneurs in the Muslim world. The Dubai government, in its aim to create an Islamic economy ecosystem, is now channelling income from Islamic endowments as venture capital to assist Emirati entrepreneurs and youths in launching their own businesses. This August, the world’s first waqf crowdfunding platform, WaqfWorld.org, was launched in Malaysia. So, there is no doubt that waqf in its various modes, but particularly in the flexible from of cash-waqf, can indeed be a powerful social investment tool. There is plenty of potential for that large pool of waqf capital that currently still remains underserved, including waqf properties that sit idle or are underutilised, and unmanaged social funds kept somewhere without unlocking their yield potential. But it should also not be forgotten that there are challenges in unleashing the full potential of waqf. These include the fact that particularly the concept of cash-waqf, or the general investment potential of waqf funds or assets, needs better promotion in order to increase contributions and its appeal for investors. As in other fields of Islamic finance, there is also still a lack of regulations and standardisation with regards to waqf-related investments, let alone best practices related to waqf fund management. Furthermore, waqf investment products need to be developed that are competitive in their fee structures, and project costs need to be kept in line with the social purpose of a waqf investment to prevent a fund’s capital erosion.

Vice President of the People's Republic of China, Han Zheng arrived in Doha Sunday to participate in the Second World Summit for Social Development, which is hosted by the State of Qatar from November 4 to 6.China's Vice President was welcomed upon arrival at Hamad International Airport by HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs, Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al-Thani and HE Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the State of Qatar, Cao Xiaolin.

HE Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali al-Jabr al-Nuaimi affirmed Qatar's unwavering commitment to empowering women and girls and enhancing their role in the sustainable development process.This came during her participation, representing the State of Qatar, in the high-level meeting organized by the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the 4th World Conference on Women, on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 80th session of the General Assembly in New York.HE al-Nuaimi commended the adoption of "Recommitting to, resourcing and accelerating the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action," as the title of this meeting, indicating that the Beijing Declaration represents an important frame of reference for national efforts.She said that Qatar has given top priority to women's empowerment at various legislative, regulatory, and political levels, contributing to comprehensive and sustainable social development. HE al-Nuaimi highlighted the remarkable progress the country has achieved in this regard, as Qatar ranks first in the Arab world in women's participation in the workforce, reaching 63.3%, according to World Bank statistics for 2024. The percentage of female university graduates has also reached 67.5%, exceeding the global average.HE al-Nuaimi addressed modern public policies aimed at balancing family and professional life for women, including providing flexible work options and maternity and childcare benefits, in addition to more comprehensive support for vulnerable groups. She stressed the need to give special priority to women's issues and vulnerable groups in light of the humanitarian crises and conflicts the world is witnessing, discussing the worsening conditions in the Gaza Strip, which require the activation of international mechanisms concerned with protection and strict adherence to the provisions of international humanitarian law.HE al-Nuaimi urged the international community to support the efforts led by Qatar, in co-operation with regional and international partners, in preparation for hosting the Second World Summit for Social Development, which is expected to constitute a fundamental milestone in charting the future directions of the social development agenda and promoting sustainable development paths worldwide.

Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Martin Chungong, applauded the close co-operation and ongoing partnership between the State of Qatar, the Shura Council, and the IPU across all areas related to activities and events organised at all levels and fields.Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the margins of the 298th session of the Executive Committee of the IPU, which concluded in Doha on Wednesday, Chungong said that the co-operation and partnership with the State of Qatar have been ongoing for many years.Numerous joint events have been organised, the latest being a parliamentary forum with the Shura Council titled ‘Investing in People and Institutions: The Role of Parliamentarians in Social Development’, convened on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development hosted by the State of Qatar from November 4-6, 2025, Chungong highlighted, confirming that it was an utterly successful forum.Chungong praised the State of Qatar for hosting this session and for the outcomes it produced in advancing sustainable social development worldwide, adding that it is essential to collaborate with the State of Qatar and the Shura Council to ensure the existence of a framework and action plan to foster social development globally.Qatar regularly hosts IPU activities to discuss a variety of issues and topics of global significance, including, for instance, strengthening parliamentary efforts to support the peace process in the Middle East, he underlined. Chungong further stated that the IPU consistently seeks to deepen its collaboration with Qatar and continuously works to advance its shared agenda with Doha, benefiting from the expertise Qatar possesses in global peacebuilding efforts.In addition, Chungong said that first and foremost, he believes it is entirely natural for a nation so highly active on the international stage, such as Qatar, to host the activities and events of a global organisation like the IPU, emphasising that he has visited Doha on several occasions and has observed the nation’s strong commitment to the IPU.Accordingly, Chungong underscored that he feels a great sense of ease here when considering the issues on the Union’s agenda, such as peace and security and sustainable development, issues in which Qatar is deeply engaged. For all these reasons, he finds it entirely fitting to be in Qatar and to enjoy the warm and generous hospitality.Chungong further affirmed that the Doha session was extremely productive, expressing his sincere gratitude to the State of Qatar, and in particular to the Shura Council, for hosting the session and providing the conditions that enabled participants to conduct highly substantive deliberations and take decisions that will enhance the way the IPU executes its work in the coming months.He highlighted the appreciated efforts of the State of Qatar in mediation, which are welcomed by all, adding that Qatar has become a hub for anyone facing a problem or crisis in need of mediation and peaceful solutions. What distinguishes Qatar in this regard is the trust placed in it and its policies, and if one looks at nations that succeed in mediation in conflict situations, they succeed because they enjoy the trust of all parties involved, Chungong underlined.Therefore, he said, many are keen to come to Qatar, as they regard it as a neutral, non-aligned nation that commands trust, which is extremely important. He pointed out that it is no coincidence that Qatar is regarded as a hub for conflict resolution, as it has first demonstrated this commitment, and has also shown flexibility in addressing crises worldwide, making it a trusted crossroads for all parties.In an interview with QNA, IPU Secretary-General Martin Chungong commended the support as well as development and humanitarian aid provided by the State of Qatar to numerous countries and communities in need around the world. He noted Qatar’s commitment to its international obligations in these vital sectors, as evidenced by its hosting of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in March 2023.Chungong asserted that the role of parliaments goes beyond monitoring government performance to include contributing to peacemaking, crisis resolution, and the guarantee of human rights.He emphasised the crucial importance of parliamentary diplomacy in enriching traditional forms of diplomacy undertaken by executive government bodies since parliaments represent the people, speak on their behalf, and advocate for their interests, adding that any efforts they undertake in the areas of peace and conflict resolution aim to create conditions that allow people to live normal lives.When peace processes are completed anywhere in the world with the contribution of parliaments, they must be prepared to incorporate the outcomes of these processes into their legislative functions in terms of enacting sound laws to support the peace process outcomes, holding governments accountable for failing to implement internationally reached agreements, and, more generally, representing the people and providing the resources necessary for implementing the outcomes of peace processes, he pointed out. He emphasised that it is crucial for parliaments to utilise their roles and responsibilities to promote peace globally in these areas.In his interview with QNA, he discussed the IPU’s strategy for the coming years and its priorities, focusing on enhancing people’s well-being and ensuring that other actors work in tandem with parliament. This ensures that parliaments are not viewed as isolated institutions, but rather as part of a system with numerous institutions and stakeholders contributing to a shared objective.He revealed that the IPU is developing a new strategy for the period 2027-2031, stating that one of its key priorities is how to integrate new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, into society and ensure their use for the benefit of humanity, while also minimising the risks associated with their development.He emphasised that the IPU’s strategy works with parliaments to ensure they are not merely consumers of these new technologies, but also the entities that establish a legislative framework for the responsible use of scientific and technological innovation-a crucial aspect of the new strategy.In a related context, he highlighted the IPU’s commitment to ensuring that parliaments are strong institutions in all the countries where they are present, and that they are better equipped to address citizens’ concerns and guarantee their well-being.At the end of his interview with QNA, Chungong pointed out that the current year, 2026, is the Year of Human Rights, and that it will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, the 20th anniversary of the UN Human Rights Council, as well as the 60th anniversary of two fundamental covenants: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Therefore, more attention will be given to how parliaments can contribute to global efforts to promote and defend human rights. 

 The 45th regular session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs and the high-level Arab Conference on the Implementation of the Doha Declaration - issued by the Second World Summit for Social Development - concluded in Amman, in the presence of HE the Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali al-Jabr al-Nuaimi. During the session, the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs approved a number of decisions related to the work of the council, following extensive discussions among the participating delegations. The participants stressed the need to prioritise social protection for the most vulnerable groups, particularly persons with disabilities, the elderly, women, and children, and to promote social inclusion and economic empowerment policies, and ensure equitable access to education, health, and basic services. The participants agreed to prepare a comprehensive Arab action plan to implement the Doha Declaration, based on supporting the Arab Vision 2045, developing mechanisms for relief, early recovery and reconstruction, enhancing food and water security, technological integration and artificial intelligence, and supporting lifelong learning and entrepreneurship. The participants also called for intensified efforts to implement the Arab Strategic Framework for the Eradication of Multidimensional Poverty, support the operation of the Arab Center for Social Policy Studies and Poverty Eradication in Jordan, uphold the rights of persons with disabilities, implement the Amman-Berlin Declaration, and promote social dialogue.At the conclusion of the council and conference, HE the Minister of Social Development and Family voiced her appreciation to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for its excellent hosting and organisation, affirming the State of Qatar’s commitment to promoting social development in the region. 

The Qatar Foundation for Social Work (QFSW) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Thursday with the Arab Organization of Persons with Disabilities (AOPD) to enhance cooperation in exchanging expertise and implementing joint initiatives that support the rights and empowerment of persons with disabilities in the Arab world. The MoU was signed by CEO of QFSW Rashid Mohammed Al Hamda Al Nuaimi and President of the AOPD Dr. Nawaf Kabbara on the sidelines of the Second World Summit for Social Development, which concluded in Doha today. Al Nuaimi emphasized that this agreement represents a significant step in expanding Arab cooperation in the field of empowering persons with disabilities, added that it reflects QFSW's commitment to building effective partnerships with specialized regional organizations to unify efforts in promoting rights and achieving full inclusion in society. Dr. Kabbara said that the agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between the AOPD, which comprises 16 Arab countries, and QFSW to advance training and development programs focused on disability rights rather than solely on care. He stressed the importance of working together at the national, regional, and international levels in this direction. The CEO of the QFSW held separate meetings with HE Director of the Executive Office of the Council of Ministers of Labor and Social Affairs of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries Dr. Mohammed bin Hassan Al Obaidli, and with the Community Development Authority in Dubai. During the two meetings, they discussed ways to enhance regional cooperation and exchange expertise among Gulf social work institutions. (QNA) QNA 0929 GMT 2025/11/06

HE the Minister of Social Development and Family Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser al-Misnad has said that Qatar has contributed to harnessing all the possible avenues to care for persons with disabilities at the entire regional an international levels. During her chairmanship of the two-day workshop on Disability Classification in the Arab World held in Doha, which is organised by the Ministry of Social Development and Family in co-operation with the Secretariat General of the Arab League, HE al-Misnad stressed on the importance of empowering the persons with disabilities in the Arab world to be part of the community not behind it. However, during the past years, strenuous Arab efforts have been made to empower persons with disabilities in the pursuit of integrating them into the community. "However, the tangible signs that underpin our prognosis in Qatar prompt us to believe that such efforts remained below expectations in the Arab framework due to a major reason embodied in the lack of policies and programmes to support persons with disabilities in the Arab world with a unified classification and accompanying disability, through which we can ensure inclusiveness, that no one is left behind, and that our societies are qualified to bear the responsibility of inclusion, interaction and inclusion." Dignitaries at the two-day workshop on Disability Classification in the Arab World held in Doha. She added that she proclaimed from UN Headquarters in New York the readiness of Qatar to host and organise the 4th Global Disability Summit in 2028 in co-operation with International Disability Alliance, during her chairmanship of Qatar delegation participating in the 15th session of Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. She noted that such step is an integral part of the Arab Entrepreneurship Adventure that will be inaugurated by Jordan by hosting the Third World Summit for Persons with Disabilities in 2025 in partnership with Germany. HE the Minister called for adopting a unified Arab classification based on practical classification components that goes beyond the square determined by the medical standard, and without reducing it, but by combining it with the rest of the standards such as the skill standard, the societal standard, the educational standard. "I see from my position that we have today a moral responsibility before it becomes a professional responsibility to lay this desired foundation," she pointed out. HE the Minister noted that as soon as the Arab group managed to overcome the traditional challenges in the classification it delays, it would be in the pioneering global efforts as the first region in the world, as this precedent is recorded in an important global file. She elucidated that less than five months remained ahead of hosting FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as the first Arab Mondial in the history, reiterating the readiness of Qatar to receive football match fans from persons with disabilities in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, affirming that in the past few years Qatar has witnessed unprecedented preparations to ensure that tournament becomes more easier for the persons with disabilities in the history of world championships. She added that a number of Mondial stadiums have been equipped with specialised sensory rooms devoted to persons with disabilities that primarily provide perfect atmospheres that best fit children with autism and neuro-behavioural disorders to enjoy the atmosphere of the matches in a safe space equipped with all the advanced tools and devices. The preparations also extend to receiving the masses coming from outside Qatar, where Hamad International Airport hosts a hall named Shafallah Center for Persons with Disabilities that provides its services to spectators with disabilities and autism equipped with the state-of-the-art technology and educational and rehabilitation equipment aimed at providing the best travel experience they deserve.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has stressed the need for targeted actions by governments world over to help over 400mn people to escape poverty in its latest report published ahead of the Second World Summit for Social Development (WWSD2) 2025 being held in Doha.At press conference during the WWSD2 today, Haoliang Xu, UNDP acting administrator said that rethinking traditional poverty measures by defining 'prosperity floors' can help vulnerable communities cope with shocks without falling back into poverty.As many as 411mn people worldwide could move from poverty to basic security by 2030 if governments adopt context-specific ‘prosperity floors’ and focus on job-intensive growth, adaptive social protection systems and policies that increase wagesXu said : “Crossing a $3-a-day threshold is not enough if families are still one emergency—one illness, job loss, or climate crisis—away from being unable to afford housing, food, and essential services. Our report demonstrates that, by 2030, 411mn people could move from poverty to basic security—if governments act together, and act now.”The report, titled Poverty-to-Prosperity Transitions highlights strategies to ensure not just poverty reduction but sustained prosperity for low-to-middle income households across the globe. According to the report, established poverty measurements identify people who cannot meet minimum needs.By contrast, a ‘prosperity floor’ identifies the minimum needs for people not only to subsist, but also to be able to withstand unexpected shocks such as a natural disaster or economic downturn.The report also points out that the new benchmark will not only track progress in escaping poverty but also help safeguard against future setbacks, ensuring people remain secure and resilient in the face of unexpected emergencies.UNDP analysis across 126 developing countries finds that more than one-third of people in developing countries live below their prosperity floor. This means these individuals remain vulnerable, with a single crisis threatening to push them back into poverty.The report cautions that relying solely on traditional poverty alleviation policies, such as cash transfers and cash-for-work programmes, will not sustain progress. Instead, UNDP urges governments to adopt a system-wide strategy that fosters job inclusive growth, adaptable social protection, and fairer income distribution to leave no one behind.Across every region, progress on poverty reduction has slowed, and disparities have deepened. While the share of people living in extreme income poverty has fallen globally, nearly 1.1bn people still experience acute multidimensional poverty, lacking access to education, health, and decent living standards.Two-thirds of the world’s population live in countries where income inequality has increased over the past decade. Poverty is increasingly concentrated in fragile and conflict-affected settings, and the effects of climate change and demographic pressures are compounding these vulnerabilities.

Dr Sanaa al-Harahsheh, research manager at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), Qatar Foundation’s (QF) global healthcare initiative, examines through her work how digital life affects the mental health of children and families.Her message to parents is simple: prevention is far better than cure. Problematic digital use can develop gradually, so families should start with healthy boundaries early. “Start with prevention, because the cost will be a lot later,” she says, pointing to psychological and social costs, as well as something families cannot recover – time lost together.Her concern is not only what children see online, but what slowly changes at home. She describes the risk as hidden and unnoticed, and it often starts at the dinner table. Parents call children down for a meal, only for them to stay in their rooms or reply by message from elsewhere in the same house. “It has affected the daily interaction between the family and the relationship,” she says.Emotions run high too. Children whose devices are taken away “get angry, they get stressed out,” she says. Games add pressure of their own – with teammates abroad, some children wake at midnight to play for fear of missing out or being excluded from their gaming group. “You don’t know who is playing with your children,” she explains.“This also raises cybersecurity concerns. Children may communicate with people they have never met offline, making conversations about privacy, suspicious messages, and inappropriate contact essential.”For some, screens become an escape. A child struggling in class, or in conflict with parents or siblings, may play to feel better. “It’s to escape the situation they’re in,” she explains. “But at the end, it’s not a solution. It’s temporary.”A research paper co-authored by Dr al-Harahsheh, published in Scientific Reports in 2024, surveyed 331 students in Qatar’s schools and found that problematic internet use and spending more time online for entertainment were associated with greater physical and mental fatigue, while time spent online for schoolwork was not.What children do online, and why they do it, therefore matters – it’s not simply about the amount of screen time. Nearly a third of participants in Dr al-Harahsheh’s study showed signs of problematic internet use, with coping with stress or escaping problems among the commonly reported features.Digital use can also become concerning when it displaces face-to-face interaction. It is “very serious,” she says, because real interaction happens face to face, not behind a screen. Some children come to prefer their online circle to talking with parents, cousins or relatives. Years of reduced human contact may show up later as loneliness, anxiety and low mood, a risk she sees stretching across the decades ahead.None of this, she emphasises, means technology is the enemy. “This does not mean that technology itself is harmful. It can support education, communication, creativity and social connection. The goal is a healthy relationship with it.”Boundaries work best when children understand them, says Dr al-Harahsheh. She encourages parents to talk with their children about why limits exist, how they benefit them, and to follow them too. “If I don’t control myself with the device, how will my kids take it?” she asks.“Children learn from what adults do, not only what they say. Families can protect personal information, use privacy settings and teach children to recognise scams and unwanted contact. Monitoring tools can help, but should not replace communication and trust.”Telling children to put the screen down is not enough; they need something to move on to. “Parents should offer real alternatives and take part themselves, from a walk or sport to bowling or a camping trip. Take the child out, spend time as a family and ensure everyone is present both physically and mentally,” she says. Time together supports children’s social, emotional and behavioural development, as well as family relationships.She explains that responsibility is shared: parents shape habits through communication and role modelling; schools can strengthen digital literacy and online safety; and technology providers and policymakers can help create healthier digital environments. 

Qatar participated Sunday in the "Summit of the Future," held on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) in New York.HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani led Qatar's delegation during the summit.Delivering Qatar's statement before the summit, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that Qatar, under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, launched in 2024 the third phase of its national development strategy within the framework of Qatar National Vision 2030, keen to build a diversified and sustainable knowledge-based economy by benefiting from the applications of digital technology, science and innovation, and enhancing human development. He noted that it has achieved remarkable successes on the ground, reflecting the effectiveness of the state's strategic choices.He also emphasized Qatar's commitment to international multilateral action. In this regard, he referred to His Highness the Amir's pledge of $500mn to support the core resources of UN agencies for ten years, Qatar's announcement during the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019 to allocate $100mn to support small island developing states and least developed countries in the Caribbean, Pacific, and Africa regions, and its hosting of the 5th UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) in March 2023 and its pledge of $60mn to implement development programmes in those countries.HE Sheikh Mohammed added that Qatar has pledged this year, in partnership with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to allocate 20 % of its Special Drawing Rights holdings, valued at $1 bn, to the IMF's Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) and IMF Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST), which will enable the fund to expand concessional lending to low-income countries and countries vulnerable to climate shocks. He pointed out that in June, Qatar also launched its Debt Relief for Education Initiative in cooperation with the World Bank.HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that Qatar is fully convinced that the 2030 agenda and achieving its sustainable development goals require more international and national efforts. Therefore, Qatar participated effectively in all stages of the negotiations on the final document of this summit and its annexes, as an extension of its support for the recommendations of the Secretary-General of the UN in his report on "Our Common Agenda," and its participation in leading the negotiations on the political declaration of the UN Sustainable Development Summit held in 2023.He pointed out that the world today is facing serious challenges that hinder its economic progress, threaten its social peace, and slow down efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He said that wars, armed conflicts, and the climate change's negative effects pose serious challenges, especially to developing and least-developed countries, which require the world to quickly address and overcome these challenges for the sake of the aspired future.HE Sheikh Mohammed stressed the importance of enhancing global governance, including reforming international financing structures, alleviating the debt burden, and bridging the digital gap. He emphasised the need to enhance efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth and social welfare based on protecting human rights and empowering women, in addition to enhancing climate action under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.HE the Prime Minister also stressed that development cannot be achieved without establishing the foundations of peace and stability, so Qatar continues its tireless efforts in mediation to prevent the outbreak of conflicts and resolve them through peaceful means and has achieved regional and international successes in cooperation with its regional and international allies.He added that Qatar is currently engaged in various mediations, including mediation between Hamas and Israel, in partnership with Egypt and the US, to stop the disastrous war on the Gaza Strip. He reiterated Qatar's call to the parties to the conflict to reach a ceasefire agreement and release prisoners and hostages and its call on the international community to take a clear position regarding violations of international law and international humanitarian law regarding the repeated attacks on schools, hospitals, relief workers, and displaced persons in Gaza.The Prime Minister expressed Qatar's pride in hosting the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2), which will be the key global event in 2025 within the series of three summits recommended by "Our Common Agenda." He voiced Qatar's aspiration to receive participants from all over the world in Doha, and to achieve tangible results that contribute to building a better world.The Summit of the Future, which concludes Monday, is an opportunity to enhance cooperation on key challenges, bridge gaps in global governance, and reaffirm existing commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN Charter.The summit's sessions focus on five main themes, including sustainable development and financing, peace and security, a digital future for all, youth and future generations, and global governance, in addition to human rights, gender equality, and the climate crisis.The summit is scheduled to conclude with the issuance of the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations, after being adopted by the participating countries.