Social Affairs Ministers, Officials Underscore Significance of Reinforcing Joint Arab Social Action

Doha, February 07 (QNA) - Ministers and officials of the social affairs in the Arab states and representatives of regional and international organizations underscored that boosting the joint Arab development and social action is one of the primary methods to achieve the promised sustainable development, lay the foundation of peace and safety and achieve social welfare and justice.
   This came during the high-level meeting on Doha Declaration endorsed by the 32nd Arab Summit under the theme: "Moving Forward Beyond 2030 Toward Multidimensional Social Development" held on the sidelines of the High-Level Arab Multidimensional Social Development Forum Wednesday. 
   The participants discussed the importance of implementing the Doha Declaration since it came to set the general guidelines of the successful policies and programs through capitalizing on the Arab programs and plans endorsed by the Arab summits and the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, particularly with respect to the eradication of the multidimensional poverty and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
   They highlighted that the incidents unfolding in the Gaza Strip constitute a turning point from the perspective of implementing this declaration which primarily intends to achieve development with its multiple dimensions in all Arab states. However, the humanitarian tragedy that haunts the Palestinian cause due to the relentless bloodshed requires setting a special perspective stemming from the urgent needs imposed by the current difficult circumstances.
   The Doha Declaration considers the rapid evolution in the world and its diverse impacts on the social and development gains, along with the demographic changes in the Arab region by 2030, posing evident changes to the population segments in the Arab states, in addition to the predicted upsurge in the percentages of poverty, especially on the fragile and vulnerable segments of the community, chiefly the PWDs, the participants affirmed.
   The second high-level meeting under the theme of bolstering the capabilities of PWDs, the productive families and entrepreneurship through investing smart solutions highlighted the milestones achieved by the State of Qatar to empower and care for PWDs, along with the role of the Ministry of Social Development and Family (MoSDF) in adopting numerous initiatives that support PWDs full inclusion in the community and the Arab classification of PWDs as the most critical achievement for the Arab region in this regard.
   In this aspect, several social affairs ministers and officials emphasized the importance of investment in smart solutions and cutting-edge technologies to support the PWDs independence as one of the human rights within the community's commitment to justice through achieving equality and inclusiveness and empowering the PWDs. 
   They discussed a variety of legislation, policies, social, educational and health services for PWDs, noting the importance of ensuring PWDs independence and supporting their engagement in the political life, as well as the cultural and sport activities.
   The first day of the event witnessed the launch of "Sukoon" application funded by the Social & Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM) dedicated to digitizing the sign language in collaboration with the Qatar Assistive Technology Center (Mada).
   The application primarily aims to help individuals learn Arabic sign language more easily and interactively and create social networks that connect them together and with the entire community. The App operates to translate written and verbal sentences into the Arabic sign language via simultaneous 3D personalities to streamline communication with the deaf community without the need for the speaker to know the sign language.
   Meanwhile, the "From the Homeland" initiative platform was launched Wednesday, as one of the most critical recommendations emerged from the second National Development Strategy 2018-2022 and aims to combine all projects and facilitate the provision of ancillary services, such as training, development, and marketing.
   The platform has, heretofore, registered 712 projects supervised and updated by a team of professionals from the MoSDF.
   The High-Level Arab Multidimensional Social Development Forum represents a crucial opportunity to apprise the Arab ministers of social affairs and the participating delegations of the Qatar's experience in the development and social fields, along with its trailblazing initiatives in the social field. The outcomes of this session are due to be submitted to the upcoming Arab summit. (QNA)