Qatar wrapped up the 68th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), which kicked off at the UN headquarters in New York and will continue through March 22. Minister of Social Development and Family HE Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad heads Qatar’s delegation to the session. 

In its current session, the Commission discussed policies and strategies aimed at accelerating the achievement of social justice principles and empowering women and girls. These discussions focused on addressing poverty, strengthening financing institutions from a gender perspective, and reviewing the obstacles and challenges faced by women in their development journey across various levels and spheres.

Qatar’s delegation worked remarkably to intensify discussions and hold bilateral meetings with the ministers of social development and women in sisterly countries. Her Excellency conducted 9 meetings and participated in 5 high-level events, throughout her participation in the 68th Committee on the Status of Women, which began last Friday, March 8, and continued until Thursday the 14th of the same month.

During the opening speech of the session, HE Al Misnad highlighted the essence of Qatar’s National Vision 2030 in achieving social justice principles. She emphasized the leadership’s unwavering commitment to achieving sustainable development goals for all vulnerable and marginalized groups in society, in line with the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

HE the Minister said: “We are pleased that the State of Qatar has come a long way in this field. The legislation and policies adopted by the state aim to achieve a balance between work and family responsibilities and have contributed greatly to empowering Qatari women and enhancing their role and participation as an active partner in the state’s developmental process.”

HE the Minster underscored that Qatar’s National Vision 2030 has ushered in a new phase, prioritizing attention to all segments of society, including women. The vision’s fundamental pillars of human development, social development, economic development, and environmental development shed the light on the importance of projects aimed at empowering women socially and economically. These projects are placed at the forefront of priorities to achieve the foundational aspects of social partnership outlined in the vision.

She highlighted the ‘limitless Exhibition’ in New York, which displays several achievements of a group of creative Qatari women and shows their great abilities in breaking restrictions and barriers to self-realization, as they draw inspiration for creativity from the path of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who has started many social and educational initiatives, not only in Qatar, but in the Arab world and beyond.

HE the Minister drew attention to the efforts of the State of Qatar and its commitment to bringing peace and resolving conflicts in areas of armed conflict that affect women and children by following peaceful and safe methods, and making the utmost efforts in discussing women’s issues and needs and striving to provide viable solutions.

In this context, the Minister pointed to Qatar’s rapid response in hosting the wounded and injured women and children of the Gaza Strip in the wake of the humanitarian catastrophe that the Strip is witnessing.

Concluding her speech, she voiced solidarity with all women and girls in Gaza in the harsh conditions and the humanitarian crisis that has continued for the past five months, praising the efforts of all those working to achieve peace and those who risk their lives to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.