Qatar Stresses Commitment to Full Implementation of Women, Peace and Security Agenda

Sheikha Alya bint Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani

The State of Qatar has affirmed its commitment to the full implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1,325, which stressed the pivotal link between gender equality and international peace and security, calling for the need to intensify efforts for the economic empowerment of women.

This came in the statement of the State of Qatar, delivered by HE the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya bint Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani at the Ministerial Meeting of the UN Security Council on the occasion of International Women's Day, which was held under the title "Advancing the Women, Peace And Security Agenda Through Partnerships: Women's Economic Inclusion and Participation as A Key to Building Peace."

The statement pointed out that Qatar's strategy to implement the UNSC Resolution is in line with the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, expressing Qatar's belief in the need to strengthen and address the barriers that prevent the political and economic participation of women and girls in conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction, especially through initiatives that enable them to integrate.

The statement added that thanks to the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the State of Qatar protects women's participation in peace and security affairs at all levels. It stressed that the State of Qatar continues to work tirelessly to unleash opportunities to increase women's economic empowerment and their participation in the workforce to promote economic growth.

Also, it referred to Qatar's hosting on January 21 and 22, in partnership with Finland, Colombia, and the UN, the High-Level Global Conference on Youth-Inclusive Peace Process, where the participants stressed the need to invest adequately in the efforts of young women peacebuilders, and to ensure that they have meaningful opportunities to contribute to economic recovery provisions in post-conflict peace agreements.

The statement underlined the critical importance of partnerships and funding, pointing to the State of Qatar's contribution to funding many UN agencies and departments to implement the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda.

In this context, the statement drew attention to the efforts of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), which prioritized the economic empowerment of women and girls in conflict and recovery situations, explaining that QFFD focused, in its cooperation with strategic partners, on programs such as women's participation in large and small economic programs alike; addressing structural barriers to their economic participation and resource control; sustainability programs; microfinance support; job improvement and income generation for displaced women; and strengthening education and social services in refugee camps, in addition to its focus on applying local economic models to provide employment and income opportunities to eradicate poverty.

The statement noted that QFFD signed in April 2021, with the Digital Citizen Fund, a grant agreement to finance a vocational training project for girls and women in Afghanistan, with a focus on business and digital expertise, praising the Silatech foundation, which supports young women in conflict or post-conflict situations through access to job opportunities, vocational training, technology platforms, and career guidance.

At the conclusion of its statement, the State of Qatar affirmed its commitment to play its role in the full implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and work with international organizations, academia, civil society, and the private sector to bring change that would preserve peace and gender equality. (QNA)