Doha: HE Minister of Social Development and Family Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi emphasized that women represent a key axis in the development process, stressing that empowering them economically, socially, and politically is the basis for achieving sustainable development and social justice. This statement was made during Her Excellency's remarks at the side event entitled "Women at the Heart of Development: From Empowerment to Impact," organized by the Sultanate of Oman in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the State of Kuwait as part of the Second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha.
According to Qatar News Agency, Her Excellency indicated that the State of Qatar's journey in empowering women stems from a firm conviction that achieving comprehensive development is not complete without the active participation of women in all fields. She highlighted the launch of the National Social Development Strategy 2025-2030 by the Ministry of Social Development and Family, under the theme "From Care to Empowerment." This strategy includes a package of policies and legislation aimed at enhancing women's participation in public life, supporting women's entrepreneurship, and ensuring equal opportunities in education, health, and work.
Her Excellency addressed key national legislation that has enhanced women's participation, including the amendment to the Civil Human Resources Law of 2025. This amendment grants additional privileges to working women, such as extending maternity leave, supporting women in cases of childbirth and family care, and ensuring a flexible and family-friendly work environment.
In the international context, Her Excellency noted that the State of Qatar is committed to supporting women globally through the Qatar Fund for Development. From 2013 until April 2025, the fund provided foreign aid exceeding USD 7.3 billion, covering fields such as education, health, women's empowerment, and child protection, benefiting more than 120 countries worldwide.
Her Excellency affirmed that these efforts reflect Qatar's humanitarian and developmental commitment to promoting equality and social justice and building inclusive societies that provide women and girls with equal opportunities to contribute to the advancement of their societies. She concluded her remarks by thanking the GCC General Secretariat, the Sultanate of Oman, and the State of Kuwait for organizing the event, expressing hope that the discussions and outcomes will contribute to formulating practical visions to prioritize women's issues in regional and international social development agendas.