Qatar Hosts Civil Society Forum

Doha, April 01 (QNA) - Qatar is aiming to bring forward the debate on development-centered globalization, by hosting the Civil Society Forum (CSF) in parallel with thirteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII). The Forum will be held from 17 to 26 April 2012 at the Qatar National Convention Centre. The Forum is being held in partnership with the host civil society organization in Doha, the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS) and in close coordination with NGOs from all over the world. The Civil Society Forum will bring together 400 personalities representing social movements, pro-development groups, women's groups, trade unions, agricultural organizations, environmental organizations, faith-based organizations and fair trade organizations. At the Forum they will have the opportunity to present their vision of for future sustainable solutions in a turbulent world, affecting them by its economic fluctuation, and build on the legacy of holding this forum since UNCTAD XI in Sao Paulo (Brazil) in 2004 and UNICTAD XII in Accra (Ghana) in 2008. Mohammed Al Maadeed, Director of Awareness and Programme at the National Human Rights Committee, and head of the organizing committee for the Forum said: "The NHRC is honored to be chosen as the local partner to host the Civil Society Forum. It is an acknowledgement of the pivotal role we play in defending human rights and developing civil society organizations. Hosting the Forum proves Qatar is moving in the right direction by giving civil society a key role in sustainable development." "The importance of civil society in sustainable development has been stressed many times in Qatar, but in particular by HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is head of the Supreme Oversight Committee for implementing Qatar National Vision 2030. He said that everyone in Qatar, including the private sector and civil society, must fully commit to implementing the strategy's framework and achieving its development objectives. Doing so will bring prosperity and benefits for us today as well as for Qatar's future generations. The Civil Society Forum will meet in plenary 17 19 April, at the Qatar National Convention Center, prior to the official opening of UNCTAD XIII, gathering representatives from the NGOs, the Private sector and the Academia, to discuss the themes and sub-themes of the Conference, and build consensus and finalize the civil society position document to the Conference. The document will then be presented at the opening plenary of the UNCTAD XIII Committee of the Whole, which will take place on 21 April. The Civil Society Forum will continue from 22 to 25 April in parallel with the Conference, through plenary sessions, workshops and discussion groups on the issues which matter the most to the civil society, including enhancing the engagement of civil society in UNCTAD s activities. Mohammed Al Maadeed confirmed that Qatar listened to the Civil Society Declaration at the former UNCTAD session in Accra, where they highlighted "jobless growth". Qatar has turned this call into a reality with its ambitious development plans, while benefiting from the honor of hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022 which has led to the investment of 100 billion US dollars and the creation of thousands of jobs. During its last session in 2008, a quote was borrowed from the Declaration of Philadelphia which was launched at an International Labor Organization meeting in 1944 warning that "poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere". This endorses the reaffirmation of the Civil Society Forum that employment is the key to poverty eradication and that UNCTAD should incorporate into its activities the commitment to decent work. This was adopted by all United Nations member States at the 2005 World Summit of the United Nations General Assembly and reaffirmed in the 2006 Ministerial Declaration of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. (QNA)