Doha, September 22 (QNA) - Since joining the United Nations (UN) in 1971, the State of Qatar has been keen to support UN initiatives in various fields, through close cooperation with various relevant UN bodies, including supporting international development efforts, maintaining international peace and security, promoting human rights, and providing humanitarian relief, and other collective initiatives taken to address current or future challenges facing the world.
Qatar is proud of its distinguished and active role in the United Nations, which is referred to by the international organization and member states on issues raised on the international scene. The State of Qatar is known for its serious and fruitful partnerships with the UN bodies and its achievements and respect for international commitments and initiatives in various fields to support multilateral international action to meet common challenges.
As a translation of the existing partnership between the State of Qatar and the United Nations, Doha, which the United Nations views as a prestigious global platform for dialogue, has become an international center for many of the UN's main organizations. This communicates the message and signifies that the State of Qatar is at the forefront of countries in the region that is relied upon as a reliable partner of the UN.
As a culmination of that partnership and Qatari support for UN initiatives, HE State of Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, announced that the expected UN House in Doha will be inaugurated during the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) hosted by the State of Qatar in the first quarter of next year.
The UN House will contain offices for United Nations organizations, including the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Regional Center for Training and Capacity Building in Combating Cybercrime, and the Analysis and Communication Center of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and Doha's International Hub on Behavioural Insights to Counter Terrorism.
The inauguration of the UN House comes as one of the fruits of the support by the State of Qatar, which was announced on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2018, to fund UN organizations with 500 million dollars to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two sides. This stems from the depth of the solid relationship between the State of Qatar and the various UN institutions, in line with the State of Qatar's policy and joint responsibility as an active partner in the international community towards achieving international peace and security, sustainable development, combating terrorism and other common challenges.
This was not by chance. Qatar ranked sixth globally and first in the Arab world as one of the largest contributors to multi-partner funds in 2017, based on its firm belief in the importance of strengthening international cooperation to reach the desired goals within the framework of an effective international partnership to promote the lofty purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and achieve human well-being.
During the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Forum on Financing for Development Follow-up 2022 held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York in April, HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi said that the total funding committed by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) during 2020, exceeded 533 million dollars, by allocating funding to many partners in the field of development and humanitarian assistance, including UN agencies.
QFFD signed a partnership agreement with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) for 2021-2025, contributing 10 million dollars to support the coalition's efforts for the fair and sustainable access of vaccines to low-income countries, in line with the importance that the State of Qatar attaches to strengthening international support to ensure easy access to vaccines, HE explained.
The State of Qatar was also a founding investor in the UNDP’s Accelerator Lab Network, allocating a multi-year contribution totaling 20 million dollars to support the network of laboratories that provide innovative solutions and measures to the current challenges caused by the spread of COVID-19. Its work has shown a vital impact on the lives of many around the world.
The QFFD has numerous partnerships and agreements, as it is in charge of coordinating and implementing foreign development assistance projects on behalf of the State of Qatar in several fields. In July 2022, QFFD signed an agreement with the World Food Program (WFP) to support basic resources worth 10 million dollars to meet basic food security needs. Before that, in November 2021, it also signed an agreement with the WFP to provide a financial contribution of 90 million dollars to secure food aid for over 7 million people in dire need of food in Yemen.
The Qatari support for UN initiatives comes through close cooperation with various relevant UN bodies, including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).
Regarding the Alliance of Civilizations, Qatar strongly supported the initiative to establish UNAOC, which plays an active role today in promoting a culture of peace. Qatar continues its support to increase its ability to carry out its mission. In December 2011, Doha hosted the UNAOC's Fourth Global Forum.
Qatar has done an exceptional job in leading international initiatives, signing many international treaties and conventions, in addition to its individual initiatives. From 2000 to 2014 alone, Qatar donated to more than 41 United Nations bodies and entities.
In human rights, Doha welcomed the UN Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region in Doha, which was officially opened in May 2009. The center plays a major role in the region to raise awareness of the issue of human rights.
Qatar has also supported the UN Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons since its adoption, and in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the League of Arab States, Qatar has sponsored the Arab Initiative to Build National Capacities in Combating Trafficking in Persons in Arab Countries.
As part of its long-term commitment to the United Nations and the least developed countries, the State of Qatar signed an agreement with the United Nations in October 2021 to host the United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5). The conference culminated in the adoption of the Doha Work Program for the Least Developed Countries for the decade 2022-2031, which will help these countries face the challenges arising from COVID-19, the economic crises, and climate change.
In October 2021, the State of Qatar pledged an additional 16 million dollars to support the international efforts of the UNDP to combat poverty, climate change, and inequality around the world.
The agreements included a pledge from the State of Qatar to provide annual support to the UNDP, UNICEF, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and UNHCR.
In March of 2021, the State of Qatar and the United Nations signed two agreements to open two new offices of the organization in Doha. Under the agreement, a UNDP office will be established to support efforts and means to achieve sustainable development goals globally, while UNOCHA will support the United Nations mission of coordinating global humanitarian operations through partnerships with national and international actors.
Qatar has also put forward several humanitarian and development initiatives at the international level, including the "Hope for" initiative to enhance the effectiveness and coordination of the use of military and civil defense assets to confront natural disasters.
On Sep. 9, 2020, the Education Above All Foundation, along with its global partners, UNICEF and UNESCO, marked the first International Day to Protect Education from Attacks after world leaders and activists unanimously agreed on the need to take immediate and concrete action to protect education from attacks.
In April 2022, the State of Qatar continued its partnership with various United Nations bodies. The most recent of these partnerships culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) by the Ministry of Sports and Youth with UNICEF to improve cooperation on issues related to social and economic empowerment and the inclusion of Qatari youth.
The strong Qatari presence in UN initiatives reflects Doha’s commitment and belief in the importance of strategic partnership with the United Nations to enhance the efforts made by the international community to maintain international peace and security, prevent conflicts, support the development process and promote human rights, and participate in collective action to address existing and emerging challenges facing the world. (QNA)