Qatar Reiterates Commitment to Implement Provisions of Rights of Child's Convention

New York, November 21 (QNA) - The State of Qatar reiterated its commitment to the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, stressing that it gives the issue of child protection, especially the right to education, the highest priority

The State of Qatar noted that it collaborates with international partners to reach quality education services for 10 million children around the world through the initiatives launched by Education Above All Foundation (EAA).

This came in a statement delivered by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani at the high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the UN adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which Qatar was among the first countries to ratify it.

The State of Qatar, put the issue of protection of children's rights, especially the right to education a top priority, where the state was able to cooperate with its international partners to access quality education services to 10 million children around the world through the Education Foundation initiatives above all.

HE Ambassador Sheikha Alya noted the State of Qatar's support, as it contributed a $ 50 million to support education services provided by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to Palestine refugees in Jordan, Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Syria and Lebanon.

She also referred to HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's announcement in 2018 of the State of Qatar's pledge to provide quality education to another one million girls by 2021.

As part of the State Qatar's efforts to support peacebuilding and the rehabilitation of child soldiers, it pledged $ 88 million to the UN Fund for Recovery, Reconstruction and Development in Darfur, HE said, noting in this context the implementation of a social and economic rehabilitation program for demobilized soldiers, including children.

She also referred to the State of Qatar's support to rebuild five service complexes in five villages in Darfur, including water stations, primary and secondary schools and a police station in order to create an enabling environment for children.

Regarding the child's right to health care, HE Ambassador Sheikha Alya said that the State of Qatar has provided $ 70 million to assist in the rehabilitation of water and sanitation systems project in Yemen to combat cholera and improve access to safe drinking water that benefits about 8.5 million Yemenis, including about 4.25 million children. She noted in this context to the State of Qatar's partnership with UNICEF to support water and sanitation network improvement project in schools and primary health care centers in Iraq.

HE expressed the State of Qatar's pride of its close partnership with UNICEF in the implementation of many projects and programs, which have contributed to saving the lives of children, defending their rights and helping them to realize their potential, adding that this partnership culminated recently in the provision of $ 8 million in financial support to UNICEF's core resources for the period (2019-2020), as well as the opening of a UNICEF office soon in Doha.

The State of Qatar is preparing to open the analysis and communication center of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict in Doha, which would contribute significantly to enhancing knowledge and skills related to the protection of children affected by armed conflict in the region, she said.

HE welcomed the launch of the results of the Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty on November 18, 2019, in Geneva, in which the State of Qatar contributed $100,000.

At the end of the statement, HE Ambassador Sheikha Alya reiterated the State of Qatar's commitment to continue implementing its obligations towards the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocols for the realization of children's rights in all fields and in all circumstances.