Tashkent: Shura Council continues its participation in the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), currently underway in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and set to conclude Wednesday. HE Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti attended the meeting of the IPU Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs, held as part of the General Assembly.
According to Qatar News Agency, the committee discussed various agenda items, including the topic “The Growing Role of the BRICS in International Relations: What Impact for the UN?” In her remarks, HE Dr. Al Sulaiti highlighted the role of BRICS in international relations and its contribution to empowering developing nations, calling for enhanced cooperation between the UN and BRICS, and emphasizing that such collaboration would support UN efforts to achieve sustainable development goals, address food security, combat climate change, and promote global peace.
Regarding the situation in Palestine, Her Excellency drew attention to the humanitarian tragedy faced by the Palestinian people due to ongoing Israeli occupation, marked by systematic killings and displacement condemned by all free nations, noting that over 50,000 Palestinians, mostly children and the elderly, have been killed amid widespread destruction of vital infrastructure in Gaza. HE Dr. Al Sulaiti urged a unified parliamentary stance to support UN resolutions and encourage the International Court of Justice to take decisive measures to protect the Palestinian people and halt Israeli violations.
Her Excellency also highlighted the challenges faced by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in carrying out its mission in Palestinian territories. During her participation in the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, held on the sidelines of the General Assembly, HE Dr. Al Sulaiti praised the Forum’s role in promoting women’s participation in political life globally and raising awareness about empowering women to lead change in their communities, commending the Forum’s efforts to support legislation advancing women’s rights, stating that the Forum has enabled women parliamentarians to strengthen their positions as influential policymakers, foster effective international partnerships, and share successful experiences.
In her remarks on “Women in Parliaments: World and Regional Averages,” HE Dr. Al Sulaiti emphasized the tangible role of networks in enhancing women’s political presence, empowering them in decision-making processes, and fostering peacebuilding efforts. Her Excellency highlighted platforms that facilitate the exchange of experiences and address shared challenges, such as the “Mediation Network Africa” and the “Nordic Women Mediators,” as well as international summits that have deepened cooperation and amplified the impact of women parliamentarians.
HE Dr. Al Sulaiti affirmed that Qatar’s active participation in these networks reflects the country’s steadfast commitment to supporting and empowering women, noting that the State of Qatar’s achievements in this field are a result of continuous support from its wise leadership, making the Qatari experience a model to be emulated regionally and internationally. On the sidelines of the IPU General Assembly, HE Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council met with HE Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia Hakob Arshakyan to discuss parliamentary cooperation and ways to strengthen it.
Additionally, the Shura Council, represented by HE Dr. Sultan bin Hassan Al Dosari, participated in the meeting of the IPU Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights. The committee reviewed several resolutions, including one on the impact of artificial intelligence on democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. In his remarks, HE Dr. Al Dosari stressed the importance of regulating AI use to ensure respect for democracy, protect human rights, and uphold the rule of law, underscoring the State of Qatar’s significant focus on this issue, including the launch of its “National AI Strategy” as part of its digital transformation strategy, aimed at balancing technological advancement with human values.
The Shura Council, represented by HE Eng. Ahmad bin Hitmi Al Hitmi, also participated in the meeting of the IPU Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs, where attendees adopted a resolution on the role of parliaments in advancing the two-state solution regarding the Palestinian issue. In related developments, HE Member of the Shura Council Yousef bin Ali Al Khater was elected Tuesday to the Bureau of the IPU Standing Committee on Sustainable Development.