United Nations/ Special Representative of UN Secretary-General Hails Qatar’s Collaboration in Supporting Children’s Education -1-

HE Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict went over Qatar's successful role in mediation, highlighting the pivotal role of the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs in creating a safe space for conflict parties to discuss ceasefires, reunite children with their families, and vulnerable individuals. She said that Qatar's quiet diplomacy is truly impressive, explaining that as the UN office for children and armed conflict, they developed operational guidelines for all mediators to bring children's issues into negotiations as they arise, and they have a partnership with the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding this, especially concerning how vulnerable children with disabilities are during conflict. Another crucial issue is the prevention of child recruitment or involvement in violence through controlling the digital environment and cybercrime. She mentioned the third edition of the National Human Rights Forum organized by the National Human Rights Committee (N HRC) last week in Doha, which discussed ways to incorporate children's rights into the digital space, address related violations, and manage social media access to children who may be wrongly recruited by inappropriate individuals, while also criminalizing offenders. This is alongside numerous initiatives aimed at criminalizing child abduction and their use in warfare. Regarding Qatar's focus on education, Her Excellency said she believe that every country in the world wants to claim that it protects education and seeks to provide the best education for its children, but what Qatar is doing goes beyond just the ability to educate children; it pertains to the fundamental right outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that every child from birth to 18 has the right to an education free from harm and fear. She added that Qatar has pushed this right to its limits, viewing education not only as a strategic asset for future development but also as a strategic commitment to stopping atta cks on education, explaining that when you attack education, you prevent a country from developing and securing its future. Concerning the war in Gaza and the suffering of children, the Special Representative confirmed that the UN has paid a heavy price in protecting children in Gaza with limited resources, adding that efforts have been made to communicate with all parties to prevent violations against children and alleviate their suffering. She expressed regret that, despite all efforts, there has been a 155% increase in confirmed violations against children in Gaza this year. Consequently, the UN has reached out to all parties to try to prevent and halt such actions and alleviate children's suffering, which is extremely challenging due to access difficulties, ongoing military operations, and insecurity, she explained, noting that the UN has lost many of its staff. She emphasized the importance of reaching a ceasefire, monitoring, reporting, and ensuring access to children. Source: Qatar News Agency