Her Excellency Ms. Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Minister of Social Development and Family, affirmed that women represent a key axis in the development trajectory, stressing that their economic, social, and political empowerment is fundamental to achieving sustainable development and social justice.

This came during Her Excellency’s speech at the side event titled “Women at the Heart of Development: From Empowerment to Impact,” organized by the Sultanate of Oman in collaboration with the Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the State of Kuwait, as part of the activities of the Second World Summit for Social Development held in Doha.

Her Excellency explained that the State of Qatar's journey in women's empowerment stems from a firm conviction that achieving comprehensive development is incomplete without the active participation of women in all fields.

She added that the Ministry of Social Development and Family launched the National Social Development Strategy 2025–2030 under the slogan “From Care to Empowerment,” which included a package of policies and legislation aimed at enhancing women's participation in public life, supporting female entrepreneurship, and ensuring equal opportunities in education, health, and employment.

Her Excellency reviewed the most prominent national legislation that has contributed to strengthening women's participation, including the amendment of the Civil Human Resources Law of 2025. This amendment granted additional privileges to working women, such as the extension of maternity leave, support for women in cases of childbirth and family care, and ensuring a flexible and family-friendly work environment.

In the international context, Her Excellency indicated that the State of Qatar attaches great importance to supporting women globally through the programs of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD). Since 2013 and up to April 2025, QFFD has provided over $7.3 billion USD in foreign aid covering education, health, women's empowerment, and child protection, benefiting more than 120 countries worldwide.

Her Excellency affirmed that these efforts embody Qatar's humanitarian and developmental commitment to promoting equality and social justice, and building inclusive societies that provide women and girls with equal opportunities to contribute to the advancement of their communities.

She concluded her speech by expressing her thanks to the GCC Secretariat General, the Sultanate of Oman, and the State of Kuwait for organizing this qualitative event, expressing her aspiration that the discussions and outcomes will contribute to formulating practical visions that push women's issues to the forefront of the regional and international social development agenda.