Doha: Since joining the United Nations in 1971, Qatar has been keen on active contribution to achieving the organization’s objectives in maintaining international peace and security as well as supporting development in different countries of the world.
Over the past five decades, cooperation and joint coordination to serve humanity have been the hallmark of relations between the State of Qatar and the United Nations. Qatar has become strongly present in most of the UNs activities and in regional and international groups in order to reach solutions to regional and international crises, prevent conflicts, and build peace.
In this context, and as part of the State of Qatars contribution to regional and international efforts, Doha hosts conferences, meetings and workshops for promoting international peace and security, development issues, democracy, human rights and promoting a culture of peace.
The State of Qatar has bilateral and multilateral relations with various United Nations institutions and specialized
bodies, such as the United Nations Economic and Social Council, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the International Labour Organization, UNESCO, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Partnership in Statistics in the 21st Century (PARIS21), Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), the Arab Planning Institute, and Arab Institute for Training and Research in Statistic.
Since its independence in 1971, the State of Qatar has paid great attention to international cooperation, and over the decades it has supported various international bodies and agencies in the service of humanity. It is an active and responsible member of the international community that contributes to the establishment of international peace and security through political and economic initiatives and development and humanitarian assistance.
As part of its international responsibilities, the State of Qatar pays special attention t
o the least developed countries and provides them with support to help them achieve the Millennium Development Goals. It is also keen to deliver aid to the afflicted and victims through bilateral and multilateral channels, in accordance with best practices and with high professionalism. Most of the aid is directed to low-income and least developed countries, in addition to countries that have been struck by natural disasters and conflicts. The State of Qatar also supports the global partnership for development to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, and promote economic development and environmental sustainability.
Many countries have benefited from Qatari aid, including more than 100 countries on different continents of the world, in cooperation with the relevant bodies of the United Nations. To name just a few, the State of Qatar provided urgent aid to those affected by the tsunami disaster in Indonesia, earthquake in Pakistan, and earthquakes in China and Haiti. The State of Qatar also provided aid to th
ose affected by floods in Pakistan and drought in Somalia and contributed to sheltering and assisting displaced persons and groups affected by wars around the world.
In terms of settlements and negotiation diplomacy to resolve conflicts, the State of Qatar has made participation in peace initiatives one of the pillars of its foreign policy. Thanks to its mediations, it has gained a distinguished global reputation and has been trusted by various parties, bridging the divergent positions of parties and achieving solutions that are satisfactory to all parties, ensuring the success of its diplomatic interventions to reach the resolution of crises and to embody those solutions through field development projects that are visible on the ground, and its achievements were recognized by all in various files and it was worthy of being described as a peace-making state.
Among the most important achievements of the State of Qatar in the field of international cooperation is contributing to resolving armed conflicts and
promoting international peace and security, such as signing the Peace Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan between the United States of America and the Taliban in February 2020, participating in peacekeeping forces formed by the United Nations in many regions of the world such as Lebanon, Eritrea, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and resolving crises such as Sudan and Chad, and border disputes in Djibouti and Eritrea.
The State of Qatar had an active participation in the evacuation of stranded Afghans and foreigners at risk in Afghanistan 2021, in the provision of urgent humanitarian aid to them, the contribution to international efforts to confront the Coronavirus pandemic by providing support to needy countries and relevant international organizations, including evacuating and transporting stranded people from all countries of the world and United Nations employees to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the provision of aid and development assistance focused on the health, education, water and
sanitation sectors as a result of natural disasters such as floods and droughts in various countries.
Within the framework of relations between the two sides, the State of Qatar is keen to support the United Nations agencies by all available means, and to provide the necessary requirements to enable them to carry out its work tasks and achieve the goals for which it was established. In addition to its mandatory contributions to the regular budget and peacekeeping operations, the State of Qatar provides financial donations and voluntary contributions from time to time to many United Nations funds and programs, to support the international organization in its efforts to alleviate poverty in some regions of the world, spread basic education and respond to disasters and crises. During the period from 2000 to 2014, the State of Qatar donated to more than 41 bodies or entities affiliated with the United Nations. Voluntary donations are based on an integrated national approach consistent with the state’s priorities
and strategies to support the efforts of international institutions in various fields, including mediation, promoting sustainable development plans, enhancing the conditions of children and their protection in developing countries, enhancing humanitarian assistance in conflict and war zones, supporting and enhancing efforts to alleviate expected humanitarian needs in complex emergencies, including protection issues, deep-rooted poverty, and food insecurity. The most prominent United Nations funds and programs to which the State of Qatar has contributed are the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, etc. At the level of internationally active institutions, the State of Qatar established Silatech Foundation with a capital of $100 million to address youth unemployment in the world by providing job opportunities for young people. The Foundation has implemented man
y initiatives and projects in Yemen, Morocco and Syria. In recognition by the UN for Qatar’s efforts to help vulnerable groups in different societies, especially children, the UNGA adopted in May 2020 a resolution to allocate Sep. 9 as an “International Day to Protect Education from Attack,” a decision called for by HH Chairperson of Education Above All Foundation and Sustainable Development Goals Advocate Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and led by Qatar to mobilize international support in order to ensure accountability for the ongoing and deliberate attacks on education and armed violence suffered by children around the world. The State of Qatar has also hosted many international conferences and forums concerned with trade, development, new democracies and financing for development, in cooperation with the United Nations and other international bodies. The most prominent of these conferences and forums are: The 2001 WTO Fourth Ministerial Meeting, and the 2005 the Group of and China Summit, The Sixth International
Conference of New or Restored Democracies in 2006, the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus in 2008, the Fourth Global UN Alliance of Civilizations Forum in 2011, Thirteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII), The eighteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 18), and the Afghanistan Peace Negotiations, which culminated in the signing of the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan under the auspices of the State of Qatar in February 2020. The State of Qatar also strongly supported the initiative to establish the “Alliance of Civilizations” due to the growing manifestations of fanaticism and hatred and the spread of violent conflicts and extremism. Today, the initiative plays an active role in promoting a culture of peace and dialogue. The State of Qatar has continued to provide all kinds of support to the Alliance of Civilizations and interfaith dialogue, since hosting
the Fourth Global UN Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Doha in December 2011, up until the holding of 15th Doha Conference for Interfaith Dialogue in Doha between 7-8 May 2024. The areas of humanitarian support are also diverse, such as cooperation in the field of sports. The State of Qatar is one of the sponsors of the draft UN resolution on sport for development and peace. The State of Qatar has paid great attention to sports, by hosting many international sporting events, and launching several local and international initiatives, such as the “National Sports Day” and the “Doha Goals” initiative, which constitutes a platform for global development initiatives through sports, in addition to its successful organization of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which received wide international acclaim.
In the field of human rights, the State of Qatar, during its membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council in the periods 2007-2010, 2011-2013 and 2015-2017, was keen to participate effectively and cooperate
constructively with member states. Qatar participated effectively in addressing specific threats to human rights, within the Group of Friends United against Human Trafficking. Doha hosts the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region, which plays a major role in the region in raising awareness of the issue of human rights. In December 2004, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) also approved a draft resolution submitted by Qatar on behalf of the Group of 77 and China under the title, “Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the International Year of the Family” without a vote, as it was adopted by more than 140 countries, which represented a great achievement for Qatar in this forum. The resolution reflected the positive results of the Doha International Conference for the Family in 2004 hosted by Qatar under the patronage of HH Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF) Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, which was held on Nov. 29-30, 2004, resulting in the Doha De
claration. Based on Qatar’s proposal approved in 2007 by UNGA, April 2 was adopted as World Autism Awareness Day. The purpose of this annual observance is to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life for people with autism so that they can live within their communities normally. The UN Human Rights Council (OHCHR) also adopted at the conclusion of its 29th session in July of 2015, a resolution on “Protection of the family: contribution of the family to the realization of the right to an adequate standard of living for its members, particularly through its role in poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development”, presented by The UN Group of the Friends of the Family which includes Qatar amongst others. Qatar’s participation in this draft resolution came as Qatar is a major founder of the Group of the Friends of the Family. In the context of combating terrorism, the State of Qatar actively participates in international efforts to combat terrorism and stresses the need to address the root
s of terrorism and not link it to any religion, ideology or civilization. Alongside other countries, Qatar seeks to reach a definition of terrorism that considers the right of peoples to self-determination and the commitment to criminalizing hatred of religions and insulting religious symbols. The State of Qatar is a founding member of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), which coordinates initiatives with 30 different countries, and is an active member of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center, which includes all GCC States and the US and aims to confront new and evolving threats to terrorist financing. In December 2018, the State of Qatar and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) signed an agreement to establish a United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism in Doha, and contributed USD 75 million to support its overall strategy. Subsequently, in March 2019, the State of Qatar and UNOCT held the first Strategic Dialogue at the UN Headquarters.
Source: Qatar News Agency