The State of Qatar participated in the ministerial meeting, held on the sidelines of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly on safeguarding the achievements of 20 years of international engagement in Afghanistan to discuss support for Afghan women and girls and their access to education.

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani represented the State of Qatar at the meeting.

In a speech he gave at the meeting, HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed pleasure for participating in the meeting held virtually at the ministerial level on safeguarding the achievements of 20 years of international engagement in Afghanistan with a special emphasis on the continued support for the future of Afghan women and girls and their access to education.

His Excellency reiterated the State of Qatar's full solidarity with the Afghan people and support for their efforts to achieve their legitimate demands for stability, security, peace and development.

His Excellency said that the State of Qatar believes that comprehensive and sustainable peace is the main key to stopping the humanitarian crisis and that it is also critical to achieving all sustainable development goals, including the fourth goal of the sustainable development goals, which is related to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the State of Qatar encourages the transitional government and Afghan leaders to form a more inclusive government that represents everyone. His Excellency added that the State of Qatar conveyed the importance of respecting women's rights and the vital role of Afghan women in the development of Afghanistan, adding that Qatar also invited the current government to follow the lead of many Islamic countries, including the State of Qatar, where women fully and constructively exercise their rights, and represent the largest segment of the workforce in the country, as womens enrollment in higher education exceeds the number of men.

His Excellency pointed out that the State of Qatar, out of its sense of humanitarian duty, rushed to help evacuate more than 58,000 people from Kabul to Qatar, and provided them with temporary housing, meals and health care, as well as providing vaccines for the emerging coronavirus, for those who need it. Among the evacuees are families, NGOs staff, journalists, athletes, children, and many Afghan women who feel they are in danger, His Excellency said.

His Excellency said that all members of the "Afghan Dreamers", an all-girls robotics team from the Afghan city of Herat, between the ages of 15 and 19, were safely evacuated to Qatar. His Excellency added that they received scholarships from Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) and Qatar Fund for Development to continue their education in QF universities, Sheikh Mohammed explained saying this reflects Qatars deep commitment to ensuring that children of all ages should enjoy the right to education.

His Excellency stressed that Qatar's efforts reflect the country's commitment to the people of Afghanistan and their right to dignity and safety, adding that it will spare no effort in supporting them and working in close cooperation and coordination with its Afghan and international partners and with the United Nations.