news
2012-02-14
NAM Ministerial Meeting on Advancement of Women Concludes in Doha
The third ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on the Advancement of Women held at Doha Ritz-Carlton Hotel concluded today with Doha Declaration and Program of Action approved. Chaired by Assistant Foreign Minister for International Co-operation HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohamed bin Jabor Al Thani, the closing session also endorsed the report of the meeting's secretary general and Minister of Social Development in Grenada Sylvester Quarless which included a detailed review of the meeting's agenda and all the documents it released.
Addressing the closing session, HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohamed bin Jabor Al Thani said that Doha Declaration goes in line with Putrajaya Declaration and Guatemala Declaration and reiterated the commitment of NAM member countries to exert all possible efforts for women advancement and to enhance their participation in all fields. HE said also that the document highlighted working on assessing the achieved progress, addressing challenges and taking the necessary measures to ensure the complete implementation of Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action that was endorsed in the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. HE said that the Doha document included nine main headings focused on the enhancement of gender equality and the economic empowerment of women so as to enhance their comprehensive and effective contribution to the society especially in eradicating poverty, ensuring primary education for all, participation in the decision making on all levels, combating violence against women, enhancing and improving the comprehensive health care, reducing mortality in children, fighting HIV and other epidemics, in addition to encouraging global partnership for development. He further said that all these principles put several responsibilities on NAM members and require all of them to play a major role in raising awareness and facing these challenges by correcting the wrong understanding of some religious jurisdictions and negative cultural traditions that promotes women stereotypes. He explained that the problem doesn't lie in the existence of laws and legislations that encourages women advancement but rather in the ability to implement them and the existence of political will that put laws and legislations into effect. 'In line with the principles and commitments as set in the Doha document and taking into account all the measures included in the Program of Action, we reaffirm to make every possible effort to empower women and help them to participate effectively in all areas of life and ensure their equal enjoyment of all of their rights,' HE said. Concluding HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammad bin Jabor Al Thani expressed his pleasure for holding the meeting and the adoption of the important results reached, while also hoping for the effective and tangible implementation of Doha Declaration and Program of Action.
QNA