Doha: The 13th Doha Forum is set to discuss the impact of the emerging world order on the Arab world and challenges facing the new democracies in the Middle East. The forum, which will be held from May 20 to 22 will look at the current status for development amidst the ongoing economic crisis and the impact on human rights. This was announced by the Assistant Foreign Minister for International Cooperation Affairs and Chairman of Qatar’s Permanent Committee for Organising Conferences, H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Jabr Al Thani, at a press briefing yesterday.
Proceedings of the forum will open with a welcome address by the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, who will give Qatar’s perspective on current challenges in international relations. The forum this year will also see a strong presence of Latin American communities. President Sebastian Pinera of Chile, Vice President Amado Boudou of Argentina and Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho will be featured at the forum. “The Latin American presence in the political arena has increased. They are facing obstacles in their development and there are lessons that we can learn from them. They should not be alienated,” Jabr Al Thani said.
Discussions at the two-day forum will also evaluate the impact of the digital era on foreign affairs, looking at both the challenges for national security and opportunities for digital diplomacy, he added.“We will also be welcoming Dr John Ashe, President-elect of the UN General Assembly as well as several former leaders, including former Prime Minister of the UK, Gordon Brown and Former Prime Minister of France, Francois Fillon, - both of whom stewarded their countries through the onset of the global economic crisis,” Jabr Al Thani said. Salman Sheikh, Director of the Brookings Doha Center said: “Our session will look directly at, perhaps, the major challenge following the Arab Spring, that of institutional reform. Sound institutions are the building blocks of a democratic society. Creating a strong, reformed state is the key to the success of transitions we see across the Middle East.”
Dr Mohamed bin Saif Al Kuwari, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar, which is hosting the forum’s session on the impact of the global economic crisis on human rights said: “The session will address the pressing issues of private sector social responsibility in human rights, protection of migrant workers and the role of international organizations in addressing the results of the economic crisis on laborers.”
Answering a question on whether there was a direct correlation between a country’s economic performance and human rights violation, the Chariman of NHRC said that the committee stressed that human rights were a red-line that must not be crossed regardless of a country’s economic performance The Peninsula
