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Word from the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations in New York

    The accession of the State of Qatar to the United Nations in 1971 marked a starting point for our foreign policy in the area of multilateral relations. Our country’s quest to join the international organization was driven by the vision and history of our Founding Fathers, and inspired by the pride in their commitment to the Islamic, Arab and human values, and their belief in cooperation and the unity of destiny of mankind.

   On 22 September 1971, the flag of State of Qatar flew for the first time at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York. The Permanent Mission of State of Qatar embarked on carrying out its representative functions and on getting involved in international cooperation based on shared responsibilities, and in addressing and finding solutions to common challenges faced by the international community, in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
    Throughout an endeavor spanning four decades, the State of Qatar has spared no effort to translate the commitments resulting from its accession to the international organization, into a dynamic interaction and relentless efforts within the international community in order to strengthen multilateral cooperation. To that end, the State of Qatar ratified and acceded to most of the international conventions. It was also keen to be a stabilizing factor in the region and the world, a source of raising awareness of the significance of regional and international cooperation as the cornerstone of economic development, respect for international commitments in the field of human rights, and the promotion of regional and international peace and security, by hosting conferences, meetings and workshops under the umbrella of the United Nations.

    Aware of its responsibility as partner in the implementation of international commitments, the leadership of the State of Qatar has played an active role at the regional and international levels to promote international partnership in socio-economic, political and cultural areas, support dialogue among civilizations and religions, and contribute to the consolidation of international peace and security, along with strengthening bilateral relations with other states, especially since the State of Qatar has diplomatic relations with most countries.
Inspired by its belief in the role of the United Nations in achieving a safe and prosperous world, the State of Qatar has played an active and positive role at the international level through its membership in the major organs of the United Nations, notably the Security Council, the Human Rights Council, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Commission for Social Development and the Commission on the Status of Women. The State of Qatar has also pursued various efforts and initiatives in a bid to further the functions carried out by international organizations.

   In that perspective, the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar is keen to do its utmost to reflect the vision of the State of Qatar, implement its socio-economic, political and development policies, further its initiatives aimed at promoting international cooperation, reach peaceful solutions to internal and international conflicts, achieve sustainable development, support family, women, children and youth issues, and maintain international peace and security, by interacting and cooperating with the United Nations bodies and permanent missions of the Member States, and by being actively engaged in all United Nations activities, particularly those that constitute a priority to our State.
   As part of my mission as the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations in New York, I am pleased to welcome you to the website of the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the United Nations. We hope this website would achieve its desired objective. It is our pleasure to communicate with you on any issue pertaining to our work or to the multilateral relations of the State of Qatar.

Ambassador

Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani

@AmbAlyaAlThani

Education

  • Ambassador Alya holds a Master's Degree in International Studies and Diplomacy (ISD) from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) part of the University of London.
  • She graduated from Qatar University with a Bachelor degree in Economics: from the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics. 

Experience

  • Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations from October 17, 2013 to Present.
  • Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG) from December 2011 to September 2013, representing the State of Qatar during Qatar’s membership in the UN Human Rights Council, the Executive Council of the World Health Organization  (WHO), and the Executive Council of the International Labor Organization (ILO)
  • Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the World Trade Organization (WTO): 2011-2013
  • General Consul of the State of Qatar to the Swiss Federation: 2011-2013.
  • Worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, and served as a Counselor at the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar to the UN in New York from June 2007 to July 2011, assuming various responsibilities prior to her appointment as Deputy Permanent Representative in 2010.  
  • Started her career as a Social Policy Researcher, then Director of the Department of the Rights of the Child, Policy Division at the Secretariat of Qatar’s Supreme Council for Family Affairs from 1999 to 2007.

Professional Contributions

  • Ambassador Alya has been selected as a Young Global leader (YGL) in March 2013 by World Economic Forum Committee to improving the State of the World.
  • She Member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child from 2007 to 2009.
  • She served as a Vice Chairman of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), United Nations Headquarters from 2008 to 2011.
  • She was appointed as President of the Social Forum of the Human Rights Council in Geneva in 2013.
  • She Authored and facilitated numerous General Assembly Resolutions on behalf of the State of Qatar, including General Assembly Resolution on the International Year of the Family, General Assembly Resolution  (A/RES/62/13) that decided to designate April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day , General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/62/7) in which the Assembly decided to observe the International Day of Democracy on 15 September each year as endorsed by the Sixth International Conference on New and Restored Democracies, General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/64/290) on the Right to Education in Emergency Situations, and General Assembly Resolution A/RES/65/307 on Improving the Effectiveness and Coordination of Military and Civil Defense Assets for Natural Disaster Response.