Geneva: Qatar Foundation for Social Work participated in the 35th session of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, held at the UN headquarters in Geneva. The participation is part of Qatar Social Work's endeavor to enhance civil society participation in international mechanisms concerning the rights of persons with disabilities, and its capacity as an organization that holds consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
According to Qatar News Agency, the Foundation's participation saw an active presence in the session's proceedings, which included the opening session and the sessions dedicated to discussing the State of Qatar. The Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Social Work, Rashid Mohammed Al Hamda Al Nuaimi, delivered a statement during the special session for civil society organizations. Al Nuaimi stated that the Foundation's participation reflects the importance of civil society presence in international forums concerned with the rights of persons with disabilities, and enhances opportunities for communication and expertise exchange with relevant international bodies and organizations.
He further noted that this participation allows the Foundation to expand fields of international cooperation and partnerships, and to benefit from specialized expertise and practices. This, in turn, supports the role of civil society in advocacy and capacity-building related to the rights of persons with disabilities and UN mechanisms. On the sidelines of the session, Al Nuaimi met with the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah.
During their meeting, they reviewed the participation of the Foundation and its affiliated centers in the Human Rights Council's proceedings, the organization of side events in cooperation with the Permanent Mission, and its role in topics and draft resolution projects related to its fields of work. Additionally, the Foundation's delegation discussed with Dr. Nawaf Kabbara, President of the International Disability Alliance and President of the Arab Organization of Persons with Disabilities, opportunities for cooperation in supporting the role of civil society in the field of disability, capacity building in advocacy, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and UN mechanisms.
The Foundation continues its efforts to strengthen international partnerships and activate the role of civil society in supporting the rights of persons with disabilities through participation in international forums and developing fields of cooperation and capacity building.