Doha: Qatar was awarded a medal of appreciation during the closing ceremony of the World Social Security Forum, the largest gathering of International Social Security Association (ISSA).
The award was presented to Turki Muhammad Al Khatir, Chairman of the Public Authority for Pension and Social Security, and head of the Organising Committee of ISSA in Doha.
The forum, which attracted more than 1,000 delegates, including ministers, CEOs, senior officials and decision-makers from more than 127 countries, sought to make positive changes in social security systems all over the world. The forum conducted many sessions in Doha, including technical ones for the GCC countries.
Organisers said Brazil will host the next forum in 2016.
Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, Secretary-General of ISSA, said the forum in Doha gave organisers the confidence to achieve its goals.
He praised the role of Qatari organisations and said the forum witnessed several achievements, including the launch of the ISSA Centre for Excellence in Doha.
The centre aims at providing knowledge and experience database, as well as training to upgrade the security administration in the country.
ISSA also presented the first ISSA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Social Security to Brazil for the pioneering Bolsa Familia poverty-reduction programme.
“Through this forum, we learned that social security is a matter related to family and students. There is a change taking place in the concept of social security. It is now seen as an investment, society cannot realise development without social security,” Konkolewsky said.
Al Khatir said this was the first time Qatar hosted the forum and it was a challenge and a learning platform for everyone involved.
Carlos Edwardo, Secretary at the Ministry of Social Security in Brazil, welcomed delegates to the 2016 forum. The Peninsula
