Qatar Calls for Comprehensive Approach to Protect Children

Vienna, May 26 (QNA) - The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) held today a side meeting on children and violent extremism and terrorism under the auspices of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Austria along with Embassies of Switzerland, Norway and Canada. The meeting discussed security and legal challenges associated with the exploitation of children by terrorist groups, especially in the north, west and central Africa and the Middle East. In his keynote speech, HE Qatar's Ambassador to Austria Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri stressed the need to adopt a comprehensive approach to prevent spread of violent extremism which is not linked to a particular religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group in order to maintain atmosphere of peace and development. Al Mansouri said that violent extremism and terrorism do not arise from a vacuum, but employ disruption or deterioration of peace and development environment as well as loopholes in the international political, economic and social system to gain supporters. HE Qatar's Ambassador to Austria called for reconsidering overall mechanisms to implement obligations of collective security and maintain international peace and security and put an end to conflicts, including, first and foremost, the rights of the people of Palestine, as well as to tackle development issues as a way to prevent violent extremism and terrorism. He pointed to Doha Declaration adopted by the Thirteenth Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which was held in Doha in April 2015, focusing on projects relating to protection of children and young people from violent extremism and terrorism. HE the Ambassador said that Qatar has implemented the recommendations of the Doha Declaration through an ambitious four year program agreed upon with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and allocable for it $49 million, expressing hope that the other countries would undertake similar initiatives. (QNA)