Dr. Juhayna Al-Issa : Qatari Legislations Protect Status of Women

New York, March 12 (QNA) - The State of Qatar has underlined the importance of the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which is currently being held at the United Nations , as it allows the exchange of experience and dialogue. Qatar also takes responsibility to protect girls and women alike . This came in a speech delivered by Dr. Juhayna Sultan Saif al-Issa, Deputy Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, who heads the Qatar's delegation to 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women being held from 3 to 15 March in New York. Addressing the session here today, Dr. Juhayna Al-Issa underscored that the participation in this meeting represents Qatar's determination and its commitment to the implementation of provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. She added that the advancement of women and their empowerment to exercise all their rights are among the interest of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. She noted that Qatar had joined the international protocols on combating violence against women in all its forms, combating trafficking in human beings, and ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Qatar also agreed to join the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in human beings, especially women and children in 2009,Dr. Juhayna Al-Issa said . She also noted that articles (34-35) of the Qatari Constitution of 2004 emphasize the principle of equality before the law for all citizens in rights and duties regardless of gender, pointing out that the state had enacted national legislation including a set of laws that focus on the protection of women from all causes of injury and violence or trafficking and reviewed a number of other laws, the most important of which were the family law and the law against human trafficking, she added. Dr. Juhayna said the mechanism of integration has evolved from just axes and chapters on women to incorporate all issues in all sectors in accordance with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy, especially in its sections on family cohesion and empowerment of women, social protection, and the overall strategy of the family. The civil society institutions involved in the follow-up of women's issues and affairs have contributed to raising awareness and reducing violence against women, she said, while referring to the role undertaken by the Family Consulting Center, the Qatar Foundation for Child and Woman Protection, and the Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking. Dr. Juhayna said that these institutions have expanded and diversified its services to meet increasing demand from target groups, a matter that shows their success in gaining the trust of the community as well as the effectiveness of its mechanisms. "Qatar has seen the launch of several initiatives and partnerships in the fight against violence against women," she said, underlining that the Supreme Council for Family Affairs had formed a committee to review and develop legislation related to domestic violence and another to develop statistics of domestic violence with the participation of governmental and non-governmental organizations. Dr. Juhayna also noted to the use of different social networking to raise awareness against domestic violence. At the end of her statement, Dr. Juhayna wished the success of the seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women, expressing Qatar's delegation readiness to cooperate in order to accomplish the task of the Commission successfully. (END)