New York: The State of Qatar announced yesterday that it will donate an additional $5m to the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund’s (GCERF) replenishment campaign.
This came in the State of Qatar’s statement, read out by Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Counterterrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution H E Dr. Mutlaq bin Majed Al Qahtani, at the GCERF pledging conference, which was held on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly under the title ‘Future without extremism’.
The conference was hosted by President of the Republic of the Niger H E Mohamed Bazoum and President of the Swiss Confederation H E Ignazio Cassis.
The conference was chaired by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair who is also the Chief Executive Chairman of the Institute for Global Change.
The Special Envoy renewed in his speech, Qatar’s commitment to supporting international cooperation on combatting violent extremism towards a safer world and a future free of violent extremism.
He noted that Qatar was one of the fund’s founding members, contributing $10m and helping through its membership raise awareness of the fund by hosting a number of international events in Doha and at the UN headquarters, as well as virtually. He stressed that this partnership was natural given that the fund’s mission was in line with Qatar’s comprehensive approach for preventing and combatting violent extremism and terrorism.
Dr. Al Qahtani said that many of Qatar’s international initiatives aim to enhance a culture of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and building peaceful and fair societies to enhance political, social, and economic stability. He added that Qatar does so by directing initiatives and assistance to improve social and economic conditions through emergency and development aid; Through education, such as providing access to education for more than 10 million out-of-school children; as well as creating job opportunities with a focus on youth.
The Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs said that Qatar harnesses sport, including the opportunity to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, to promote the values of peace and tolerance.
He noted that the impact of the GCERF is reflected in the number of direct beneficiaries that have exceeded millions in many countries in just a few years since its establishment.
