Deputy Speaker Underlines Qatar's Support For Women In Conflict Zones

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA

Abu Dhabi: The Shura Council participated in the Second Women Parliamentary Forum of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), hosted by the Federal National Council (FNC) of the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi.

Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, H E Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti, and member of the Council, H E Amina bint Youssef Al Jaidah, represented the Shura Council at the forum.

The forum broadly addressed four main pillars: advancing the empowerment of women in economic and political spheres, enhancing women’s and girls’ access to health, education, and environmental justice, the role of women in countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism, and addressing terrorism-related violence.

Addressing the forum, Dr. Hamda emphasised that Qatar approaches women’s issues from the firm conviction that addressing the root causes of violent extremism represents the most effective entry point for its prevention. She highlighted the nation’s commitment to supporting women in conflict-affected areas through education, capacity-building, and skills development, by dint of promoting a culture of peace, justice, and the protection of vulnerable groups.

Dr. Hamda noted the Shura Council’s participation in organizing the Global Women Parliamentary Forum in Doha in 2024, in collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, which drilled down on the role of women parliamentarians in developing, implementing, and monitoring legislation and policies related to counter-terrorism and the prevention of violent extremism.

She pointed out that the forum’s recommendations emphasized enhancing women parliamentarians’ engagement in policymaking and strengthening international parliamentary cooperation in this field.

The Deputy Speaker stressed that women’s empowerment constitutes a foundational pillar for building cohesive and inclusive societies capable of achieving development and stability from the Gulf to the Mediterranean. She underscored that women’s empowerment is no longer solely a social issue, but a central factor in supporting political stability, societal prosperity, and mitigating the drivers of conflict and violence.

For her part, H E Al Jaidah, in the same session, noted that Qatar pursues a comprehensive approach to counter-terrorism and violent extremism prevention, based on early community-based prevention, building intellectual awareness, promoting social cohesion, and reinforcing values of moderation and dialogue.

She stressed that addressing extremism extends beyond security measures, beginning with education, upbringing, culture, and human development, with active participation of Qatari women in awareness programs across schools, universities, and cultural centres, contributing to protecting future generations and promoting a culture of peace and coexistence.

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