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The State of Qatar has renewed its unwavering commitment to the Charter of the United Nations, affirming its continued support for the international organization, the strengthening of its partnerships, and its backing of reform efforts aimed at enhancing the UN's effectiveness and responsiveness to global challenges. This came in a statement delivered by Her Excellency Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, during the Open Debate of the Security Council on "The United Nations Organization: Looking into the Future," held at the UN Headquarters in New York. Her Excellency noted that over the past eighty years, the United Nations has served as an indispensable global platform for promoting multilateralism and realizing the purposes of the Charter. It has achieved notable successes in preventing and containing numerous conflicts around the world, reflecting the organization's critical role in maintaining international peace and security. She emphasized that the State of Qatar has remained a strategic partner committed to the Charter and objectives of the United Nations, highlighting its leading role in mediation efforts, peaceful conflict resolution, and de-escalation in various regions across the globe. Her Excellency outlined Qatar's recent achievements, notably its successful mediation, alongside the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Turkiye, and the United States of America, which led to a ceasefire agreement and the end of the war in Gaza, signed on the 13th of this month. This agreement was the result of two years of tireless efforts aimed at halting bloodshed, ending humanitarian suffering, and securing the release of prisoners and hostages. She added that Qatar continues its efforts in mediation and deescalation, pointing to its hosting earlier this month of delegations from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the caretaker government of Afghanistan, as part of its initiative to facilitate dialogue and promote stability between the two countries, in cooperation with the Republic of Turkiye. Her Excellency also highlighted Qatar's outreach to the African continent, noting that in March, it hosted a dialogue between the Republic of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These efforts culminated in the signing of a mechanism for monitoring and verifying the ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on October 14, in accordance with the "Doha Declaration of Principles" signed in July 2025. She expressed gratitude to the United States for its fruitful partnership in this regard. Her Excellency stressed Qatar's call for a comprehensive review of the United Nations system, focusing on modernizing working methods and ensuring the implementation of Security Council and General Assembly resolutions in a way that guarantees accountability and avoids selectivity. She underscored the need for tangible measures to address the crisis of trust by reviving the spirit of dialogue, strengthening cooperation and unity within the organization, and ensuring pluralism and inclusivity in global governance, with greater roles for developing and small states in decision-making processes. Her Excellency also emphasized the urgency of accelerating UN reform efforts and supporting the implementation of the "UN 80" initiative across its three tracks, commending the proposals outlined in the Secretary-General's report titled "A Breakthrough for People and Planet: Effective and Inclusive Global Governance for Today and the Future". Her Excellency concluded by affirming the importance of the new peace agenda, which focuses on investing in prevention, addressing root causes of conflict, building sustainable peace, and enhancing mediation, stressing that the success of this vision requires effective structures and strong political will to improve coordination within the organization.

The United Nations marks World Statistics Day on October 20 each year, underscoring the vital role that accurate statistics and reliable data play in accelerating global progress and shaping the future. Since its inception, statistics have formed the backbone of international efforts to address global challenges — from maintaining peace and promoting sustainable development to combating climate change and improving public health.The global statistical community — comprising national and international statistical agencies — stands as a model of international cooperation, bringing together experts from around the world to emphasize the centrality of data-driven policymaking.Accurate data enable governments, institutions, and individuals to understand societal complexities, identify priorities, and make informed decisions that advance development goals. The United Nations affirms that evidence-based knowledge is the cornerstone of sound policy formulation and measurable results.Governments and organizations rely on statistical data to assess conditions in fields such as the economy, health, education, and population. Reliable data help identify actual needs, guide the allocation of financial and human resources, and increase the effectiveness of development planning. Without accurate data, planning becomes guesswork and progress uncertain.Statistics also enhance transparency and accountability by enabling performance monitoring and measuring progress toward national and global development goals. They provide tools to evaluate success, detect shortcomings, and make timely adjustments to ensure that goals remain on track.Experts stress that statistics are crucial for tracking progress on key priorities such as reducing poverty, improving education quality, and strengthening infrastructure. They enhance public trust by providing clear and transparent information, reinforcing accountability, and enabling citizens and the international community to evaluate performance objectively.Reliable statistics are also indispensable to scientific research, which drives innovation and helps develop effective solutions to complex challenges in health, agriculture, industry, and the environment. In the face of global crises — such as climate change, pandemics, and poverty — the exchange of accurate data remains essential for coordinating international efforts and formulating effective global strategies.Statistical data likewise underpin key sectors of development. Economic data support market analysis, fiscal and monetary policy formulation, and job creation strategies. In health, data help monitor disease patterns, plan vaccination campaigns, and improve medical services. In education, they guide efforts to raise achievement levels and target support to the most vulnerable groups. Socially, statistics are instrumental in identifying inequalities and directing programs that promote justice, equality, and poverty reduction. The State of Qatar attaches great importance to the role of statistics in supporting national development and building institutional capacity. In this context, the Statistical Training and Data Center of the National Planning Council (NPC), in cooperation with Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, organized in September a specialized training program titled "Economic Statistics for Managers: From Data to Decisions."The initiative forms part of a broader series of programs implemented by the Center to strengthen national competencies and enable government leaders in economic sectors to utilize data and statistics effectively in policymaking.At the conclusion of the program, Hessa Ali Al Maliki, Director of the Statistical Training and Data Center, affirmed that the initiative represents a key step toward enhancing the capabilities of national leaders in the field of economic statistics and data. She noted that the Center is committed to applying international best practices and creating a practical learning environment that supports skills development and raises efficiency at the national level, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy.In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. Alanoud Ali Al Maadid, Head of the Department of Finance and Economics at Qatar University, emphasized that statistics serve as a fundamental tool of development, as accurate data guide policy formulation, resource allocation, and the prioritization of national goals. She explained that evidence-based data enable the measurement of progress and the adjustment of policies in an objective and transparent manner.Dr. Al Maadid pointed out that the absence of reliable statistics in areas such as infrastructure, economy, and trade often results in decisions based on intuition rather than evidence, leading to wasted resources, misdirected projects, and weak evaluation of growth and employment indicators. She added that investor confidence tends to decline when access to credible information is limited.She also highlighted the importance of statistical data in mitigating natural risks and climate-related events, including earthquakes, heavy rainfall, floods, and rising temperatures. Historical and climate data, she noted, help identify natural patterns, develop risk maps, design early warning systems, and adopt more resilient building codes. Accurate data are equally essential in post-disaster response, facilitating effective relief operations, damage assessment, and reconstruction planning.Regarding the institutions responsible for statistical operations, Dr. Al Maadid stated that national statistical agencies remain the main source of official data. She underlined the importance of professionalism, independence, transparency, and confidentiality, along with the adoption of standardized classifications and methodologies that ensure comparability. She affirmed that reliable statistics constitute the foundation for sound public policies and sustainable development in Qatar.Dr. Al Maadid added that international cooperation plays a significant role in promoting the exchange of data and expertise, harmonizing methodologies, and improving the accuracy of global comparisons, thereby enhancing the quality of indicators and supporting evidence-based policymaking.She noted that despite the growing importance of statistics, several challenges persist, including shortages of qualified personnel, limited funding, restricted data access, and low response rates in some field surveys. She called for continued investment in technological infrastructure, greater utilization of big data with privacy safeguards, and the reinforcement of professional independence to ensure data quality and credibility.Experts around the world share similar views, emphasizing that the lack of financial and technical resources, weak institutional capacities, and inconsistent data standards in some regions hinder the availability of reliable statistics. They agree that trustworthy data form the backbone of any successful development process, transforming national visions into actionable plans that enhance well-being and drive sustainable progress. Strengthening statistical systems, enhancing institutional capabilities, and ensuring the reliability of data remain essential pillars for achieving comprehensive and sustainable development.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has welcomed the UN80 Initiative, launched by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as a key effort to make the United Nations more efficient, coherent, and fair in tackling contemporary global challenges. The GCC affirmed its support for efforts to reform the UN system and better meet the expectations of member states. This announcement was made during a speech delivered by Abdallah Al Fadhli, Diplomatic Attache of the State of Kuwait, on behalf of the Gulf Group before the Fifth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, under the agenda item "Organization of Work." Al Fadhli said that any reform must be anchored in the UN's three pillars: maintaining international peace and security, advancing human rights, and achieving sustainable development. He underscored the importance of a practical and constructive approach based on transparency, inclusiveness, and meaningful participation of all member states. He stressed the Gulf Group's readiness to engage constructively with all UN delegations and to promote consensus-building in the interest of achieving global goals. He reaffirmed the Group's belief that equality and inclusiveness among member states are essential to building an international order grounded in fairness and balance. Al Fadhli highlighted that enhancing fair representation and developing mechanisms for multilingualism within UN bodies are necessary, consistent with member states' aspirations for justice and equity. He specifically emphasized the importance of consolidating Arabic's status among the UN's six official languages since 1973, as a matter of equal access for Arabic-speaking peoples. He concluded by reaffirming the Gulf Group's commitment to collective and multilateral action under the UN framework, and its support for initiatives aiming to reinforce the Organization's effectiveness, strengthen its principles, and promote a just, inclusive, and sustainable international partnership.