Geneva, June 27 (QNA) - The State of Qatar, represented by the Empowerment and Elderly Care Center (Ehsan), which operates under the Qatar Foundation for Social Work, participated in a side event on the protection of the rights of older persons. The event was held at the United Nations Office in Geneva on the sidelines of the 59th session of the Human Rights Council.

Qatar's participation was led by Executive Director of Ehsan Center, Manal Ahmed Al Mannai, at the event organized by the Executive Bureau of the Council of Ministers of Labor and Social Affairs in cooperation with the Permanent Delegation of the Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to the United Nations Office in Geneva.

In her remarks, Al Mannai reaffirmed Qatar's commitment to upholding the rights of older persons and enhancing their social status through a holistic national model that emphasizes empowerment over traditional care. This model ensures their effective participation in public life while preserving their dignity and independence. She highlighted that Qatar's National Strategy for Social Development and the Family (2025–2030) adopts a forward-looking approach aimed at improving the quality of life for older persons by transitioning from a care-based to an empowerment-based framework, aligned with a comprehensive national vision.

Al Mannai also presented key aspects of Ehsan Center's experience as a national model providing a range of services including day care, home visits, psychological and social support, and family training. The center also offers empowerment and community programs designed to promote the integration of older persons and foster their active involvement in society. She stressed that incorporating older persons into the priority categories of social protection is a core component of the national strategy, which seeks to reinforce their independence and encourage their active participation across all aspects of life. (QNA)