Doha: Qatar took part in the 2014 session of the Social Forum of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva.
Qatar was represented by Maryam Ibrahim Al Ansari, Director of Research and Development Department, Qatar Foundation for Care for the Elderly (IHSAN)
Addressing the forum, Al Ansari expressed Qatar’s keenness to promote human rights of the elderly, saying Qatar’s Constitution and relevant laws have focused on the need to ensure and promote the rights of the elderly in all areas, including the right to health, housing and social security.
She said manifestations of concern over the rights of old people were not limited only to the legislative field, but went beyond to include institutional and strategic policies and programmes and referred to the establishment of institutions and committees concerned with the promotion and protection of the rights of the elderly at government and non-governmental levels, most important of which was IHSAN set up in 2003.
The foundation aims to house the elderly who do not have a breadwinner or families caring for them, provides them with health and social care and reintegrates them into society. The forum is a subsidiary body of UNHRC and serves as unique space for interactive dialogue between member states, civil society, grass-roots organisations, and inter-governmen organisations on issues linked with the national and international environment needed for the promotion of the enjoyment of all human rights by all. The chairman-rapporteur is appointed for each forum by the UNHRC president from candidates nominated by regional groups.
In setting the theme and focus of discussion for each forum, UNHRC underlines the importance of coordinated efforts at national, regional and international levels for the promotion of social cohesion based on social justice, equity and solidarity and addressing the social dimension and challenges of the globalisation process, including sharing best practice.
The forum is open, among others, to UN member states and stakeholders, such as inter-government organisations, components of the UN system, especially mandate holders of thematic procedures and mechanisms of the human rights machinery, regional economic commissions, specialised agencies and organisations, as well as representatives of national human rights institutions and NGOs in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.
QNA
