Doha Declaration a reference point for world governments

The Doha International Conference on Disability and Development (DICDD) concluded yesterday with the announcement of ‘Doha Declaration.’
Organised by Qatar Foundation for Social Work (QFSW), the two-day conference highlighted the main issues and challenges faced by persons with disabilities. DICDD which has attracted more than 1,500 policymakers and practitioners, took place at the Qatar National Convention Centre under the theme: “Leaving No One Behind.”
At the closing ceremony, Amal Abdullatif al-Mannai, CEO, QFSW, expressed the  hope that the outcomes of the conference will support the efforts of the United Nations and will be a catalyst for change towards the adoption of policies that promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
“We hope the Doha Declaration will serve as a roadmap for governments, showing that change through a combination of human rights and sustainable development goals is both desirable and achievable,” said, al-Mannai.
The Doha Declaration is an action-oriented approach that Qatar hopes will be an international reference point for world governments to integrate the rights of persons with disabilities into their national development plans.
It includes a set of recommendations to integrate the rights of persons with disabilities into their national development plans.
The conference highlighted the main issues and challenges facing persons with disabilities. The Doha Declaration was the culmination of two days of discussions on how the UN Sustainable Development Agenda can be fully integrated with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
On the concluding day of the conference, there were two panel discussions that focused on children with disabilities as well as cities and human settlement. Prof Jacqueline Bhabha, director of research Harvard School of Public Health, USA and Dr Victor Santiago Pineda, founder and president, World Enabled, USA delivered the keynote speeches. Sheikha Hissa bint Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani, special envoy of the Arab League, Secretary General, Qatar also took part in one of the panel discussions.
Qatar has a long-standing commitment towards protecting the rights of people with disabilities. In 2006, Qatar supported the UN’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, before signing it in 2008.
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the Founder of QFSW, also initiated Al Noor Centre in 1998 and the Shafallah Centre in 1999, establishing the Qatar Social Work Foundation as a civil society organisation under which Al Noor and the Shafallah operate.