The Shura Council State of Qatar

The Shura Council participated today in a seminar organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union via videoconference on parliamentary engagement in the preparation of State reports submitted under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
The Shura Council was represented at the seminar by H.E. Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti, Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, and H.E. Ms. Amina bint Yousef Al Jaida, Member of the Council.
The seminar, which forms part of a regular series of seminars organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the Convention, aimed to strengthen the participation of parliaments in the process of preparing their countries’ reports on the Convention and in implementing its provisions through parliamentary action.
In her intervention during the seminar, H.E. Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti, Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, affirmed the State of Qatar’s belief in the importance of advancing women and enhancing their participation in public life. She noted that the State of Qatar submitted its third periodic report on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women last April, explaining that the report was prepared through a participatory approach involving relevant national entities, including the Shura Council.
Her Excellency addressed the Convention’s recommendation concerning the equal and inclusive representation of women in decision-making systems, commending the overall objective of the recommendation in enhancing women’s participation in decision-making positions and removing barriers that hinder their access to positions of leadership and influence. She noted that the State of Qatar’s approach is based on equality and equal opportunities founded on competence and merit, without imposing numerical ratios or quotas, while supporting national measures and programs that promote women’s representation in accordance with national needs. She affirmed that Qatari women have demonstrated their ability to contribute effectively to the country’s national development and to assume positions of responsibility across legislative, executive, judicial, academic, diplomatic and other fields.
Her Excellency pointed out that achieving effective participation should not be reduced to a mere numerical equation between the number of men and women. She stressed that the genuine empowerment of women is measured not only by the number of seats they hold, but also by their ability to exert influence and participate effectively in shaping decisions.
Addressing another aspect in her intervention, H.E. the Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council called for greater precision in addressing legal differences in matters relating to the family. She stressed that respect for the legal and cultural particularities of States should not be interpreted as a rejection of women’s rights. Likewise, calls to advance women’s rights should not lead to the assumption that there is a single legal and social model that all societies should adopt. She explained that experience has shown that the most effective reforms are those that emerge from within societies, take into account their legal and cultural structures, enjoy social acceptance, and are both practicable and sustainable.
In concluding her intervention, H.E. Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti, Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council, stressed that the role of parliaments should not be limited to transposing international recommendations into national legislation. Rather, parliaments should study and carefully examine such recommendations, ensure their compatibility with the Constitution and the law, listen to society, and then determine what can be implemented, what requires adaptation, and what may conflict with constitutional principles or the fundamental values of society. She reaffirmed that the State of Qatar believes in dialogue and international cooperation and supports every sincere effort aimed at advancing the status of women, protecting them, and empowering them.