position paper for general assembly third committee

8/12/2019 Position Paper for General Assembly Third Committee

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Position Paper for General Assembly ThirdCommitteeEver since the State of Qatar joined the United Nations in 1971, it has constantly advocated international

peace, human rights and sustainable development. These constitutive goals, defined by the United Nations

Charter, can only be achieved within the UN framework. This conviction arises from Qatar being confronted

with the complex situation in the Middle East. Thus Qatar supports the UN by reasonable means,

demonstrating its status as a trustworthy partner. Hence the State of Qatar looks forward to the upcoming

session feeling that it is time to speak up for the following topics, concerning social, humanitarian and

technological issues: Advancing Technology to Progress Peace and Development; The Implementation of a

Global Standard of Education; and Implementing the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and

Development.

I. Advancing Technology to Progress Peace and Development

It is not a coincidence that the most impoverished regions are the ones suffering the most protracted

conflicts [] stated H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar. Member States are

progressively stressing the importance of technology in order to break through this vicious circle of

underdevelopment and conflict. Adopting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), states committed

themselves to make the benefits of technology available for all people. Five Years later, in the World Summit

Outcome 2005, the UN reaffirmed that technology and science are important means to ensure development

and peace. Qatar is looking forward to cooperating with other states on developing further instruments

facilitating fair sharing of modern technologies benefits and thus enhancing the process of Advancing

Technology to Progress Peace and Development.

Based on the Agenda for Development and the Agenda 21 the UN have undertaken huge efforts to

accomplish full implementation of MDG Number Eight, which is strongly interlinked with the discussed topic.

In order to guarantee fruitful cooperation the State of Qatar endorses its commitment to the Doha

Development Agenda and the Doha Declaration on Financing for Development, aiming at setting up fair and

non-restrictive market-access, confirming the importance of global partnerships and the significance of

multilateral cooperation to support developing countries. Furthermore, Qatar highly supports the distribution

of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as stipulated in the Geneva Plan of Action, the Tunis

Commitment and the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society. These technologies give us the opportunity

to connect people from all parts of the world and to improve their lives profoundly. Thus Qatar is enhancing

its researches in this field, willing to fight technological illiteracy. Moreover, Qatar realizes the necessity of

combining technological progress in developing countries with environmental protection. Hence Qatar

stresses the importance of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and

the Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM). It is Qatars aim to contribute to the fight against climate

change, by conveying natural gas and solar energy in order to charge the local and global energy demand.

These targets have been codified in the Qatar National Vision 2030. Being part of the Group of 77, Qatar

sees the need of strong South-South-Cooperation (A/RES/60/1), when talking about technological progress.

Therefore H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani founded the South Fund for Development and Human

Circumstances. Finally the State of Qatar wants to express the momentousness of and its dedication to

capacity building as a prerequisite of strengthening the role of technology, as stated in Chapter 37 of the

Agenda 21.

The State of Qatar is awake to the crucial role boundless access to technology plays in terms of promoting

development and peace. Qatar is convinced that the UN have developed instruments qualified to lead us to

accomplishing our objectives. Yet there is not enough financial aid to implement them successfully.

Therefore, it is of utmost importance that the developed world remains faithful to its commitments concerning

Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the Doha Declaration on Financing for Development. Moreover,


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H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani pointed out that we need a [] comprehensive educational plan

[] to guarantee sustainable capacity building and thus further independence of developing countries.

Furthermore, we need fair and free access to expertise and therefore we need to discuss alternatives to the

[] increasing restrictions [] developed countries impose on utilizing the different spheres of human

knowledge and technology development, under the pretext of protecting intellectual prosperity. The State of

Qatar calls upon all Member States to support the improvement of private-public partnerships and

multilateral relations, especially South-South-Cooperation.

II. The Implementation of a Global Standard of Education

Promoting universal and equal education is one of the main goals of the UN. It is essential to building peace,

enhancing dialogue between cultures and developing a healthy economy. Education plays a crucial role for

implementing and attaining the MDGs adopted by the Millennium Summit 2000. Hence Qatar highly

appreciates the decision of this high body to discuss The Implementation of a Global Standard of Education.

Recalling measures already taken by the UN, among which the Education for All Initiative (EFA) and the

Dakar Framework for Action are of utmost importance, the State of Qatar wants to emphasize the urgency of

meeting our EFA objectives. Thus Qatar highly welcomes the efforts that have been undertaken within the

United Nations Decade for Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD) and the United Nations

Literacy Decade (UNLD), reiterating its support of A/RES/59/237 and A/RES/59/113B. Coordinated by the

UNESCO, national, regional and international organizations have managed to establish networks of

monetary funding and expertise gathering in order to enable governments to provide education for all men

and women at all ages. This is shown by the improvements achieved in many developing countries. Qatar is

guided by the conviction, that [...] the sharing of knowledge, ideas and values is the noblest way to

transcend barriers [], as stated by H.H. Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, UNESCO Special Envoy

for Basic and Higher Education and chairperson of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and

Community Development. Hence Qatar is honored to have contributed to these efforts on a national level by

implementing the Education for a New Era Initiative in Qatar, as well as on an international level by financing

projects in crisis-affected areas and hosting international conferences, such as the World Innovation Summit

for Education. Being fully aware of the consequences of the global financial crisis, Qatar welcomes that

Member States reaffirmed their commitment to the Monterrey Consensus, since especially developing

countries are in need of substantial international aid.

Nevertheless, we must be aware of the fact that there is only little time left and that there is still a lot of work

to be done especially in times of the Financial Crisis. Therefore, the State of Qatar urges all Member States

to meet their assurances, as the ongoing decline of Official Development Assistance (ODA) may derogate

the fruitful work we have done so far. Moreover, Qatar feels that it is necessary to enforce our efforts in

ensuring education in situations of crisis and emergency as it is mentioned in the Dakar Framework for

Action. Greater priority should be given to protecting education in areas of conflicts, because students and

staff were increasingly the targets of violence attack, stated H.E. Ahmad Bin Abdullah A l-Mahmoud, Minister

of State for Foreign Affairs. Qatar invites all States to create an executive working plan, helping to ensure

[] that the right to education [is] respected by all parties of conflict as he elaborated.

III. Implementing the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development

The horrible ravages of war and armed conflicts in the developing countries have always been one of the

major concerns of all peace-loving nations. To decrease the number of conflicts, the UN have proven to be

the most important organization. The State of Qatar firmly believes that the decision of this body to discuss

Implementing the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development will contribute to solve conflicts

and to improve living standards for many people.Several issues have already been addressed by plans of action and resolutions to solve conflicts and to

reduce their inhuman costs. Among these, the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and


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Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, the World Summit 2005 and

regional declarations have enhanced the situation of people living in conflict areas. The Geneva Declaration

on Armed Violence and Development, which was signed by Qatar in 2006, has been taken into account in

A/RES/63/52 and A/RES/63/23. H.E. Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser stated Qatars firm conviction,

that [] each State has the responsibility to protect its citizens and individuals subject to its jurisdiction from

acts of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Nevertheless, the importance

of the existing instruments for the purpose of supporting those states and governments which ask for help is

undeniable, if they are used wisely. This has given the international community the possibility to avert further

aggravation in conflictaffected areas. Qatar feels obligated to support all measures which improve the

situation of civilians in armed conflicts. Finally Qatar emphasizes the importance of post-conflict

reconstruction of infrastructure, economy and social welfare and therefore welcomes the activities of the

United Nations Peacebuilding Commission.

In order to decrease the number and intensity of armed conflicts and to improve the humanitarian situation in

conflict areas there are no new solutions needed. Instead, all national, regional or international organizations

should focus their efforts on the immediate implementation of resolutions adopted by the Security Council.

H.E. Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser declared that We stress,[] that parties to armed conflicts,

State and non-State actors alike, bear the responsibility to fully comply with their obligations under

international law and relevant Security Council resolutions[]. Thus trust and unanimity within the

international community are crucial to provide sufficient solutions and stability to fragile areas. Therefore,

regional organizations such as the Gulf Cooperation Council play a very important role. Financial aid has to

be appointed faster and more effective to improve and accelerate the reconstruction of war-torn areas. The

State of Qatar calls upon all nations to support the United Nations in their efforts to create a world of security,

stability and prosperity.

position paper for general assembly third committee

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