Qatar has affirmed that it views international solidarity and co-operation as indispensable principles for strengthening national efforts and helping governments to carry out their duties and responsibilities to implement human rights, especially the right to development. In this regard Qatar has adopted over the past months a foreign policy based on strengthening international co-operation to ensure an effective response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

This came in the statement delivered by Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva Mohamed Abdullah al-Buainain during the panel discussion on "the right to development" within the work of the 45th session of the Human Rights Council.

Taking into account the biggest challenge that our world is witnessing today, which is the Covid-19 pandemic with its great impact on all walks of life, al-Buainain said Qatar has over the past months adopted a foreign policy based on strengthening international co-operation to ensure an effective response to the pandemic. He added that despite the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar for more than three years and the closure of the land, sea and airspace by the blockading countries, Qatar has responded to the global appeal launched by the United Nations Secretary-General to confront the humanitarian effects of this pandemic, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to provide support for the delivery of humanitarian and medical supplies.

Al-Buainain explained that the Qatari support provided was not limited to government agencies, but included many charitable and non-governmental institutions, as Qatar Charity provided aid to Unicef and the High Commissioner for Refugees.

He highlighted Qatar's participation in the launch of many international initiatives, the most important of which were the Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security to Combat Coronavirus pandemic, and the Group of Friends of the Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility, known as "COVAX", and worked with the United Nations Development Program in the innovation lab to discuss solutions to address the negative consequences of the epidemic, especially in developing countries.

He said, "We look forward to knowing the opinion of the participants about the role that the Human Rights Council can play in supporting the achievement of the final goal of the sustainable development goals related to strengthening the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development, especially in facing global crises such as the current pandemic."


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