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LoginQatari Women Diplomats - Active Presence, Notable Contributions in International Forums
Doha, June 24 (QNA) - Alongside various countries around the globe, the State of Qatar is celebrating the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, which falls on June 24 of every year. This day was established by the United Nations to celebrate the role of women in diplomatic work, to recognize their achievements and contributions in this field, and to encourage governments, international organizations, academic institutions, civil society and diplomatic circles to promote inclusion, remove structural barriers and ensure equal opportunities for women to participate in decision-making that affects societies, countries and the world.
The celebration of this occasion aims to highlight the pivotal role of women in the field of diplomatic work, to shed light on their qualitative contributions to building and strengthening international relations, their active role in supporting peace efforts and consolidating global security, as well as to highlight their ability to provide innovative visions in addressing international challenges.
The State of Qatar is proud of its contributions to the establishment and adoption of this day, in recognition of the vital role of women in strengthening diplomatic relations and multilateral international work, and building bridges between different cultures. The country has provided all the energies and capabilities for Qatari women to participate and excel in diplomatic work, so that they now hold many diplomatic positions and represent Qatar in international organizations, and are given increasing opportunities to reach leadership positions and participate effectively in political decision-making.
This occasion comes as Qatari women have become an essential partner in Qatari diplomacy, supported by Qatar National Vision 2030, which has given women's empowerment a strategic priority. Between female ambassadors, envoys, and officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatari diplomacy has become a model of efficiency and active presence on the international stage, whether in peace mediations, promoting international cooperation, or defending women's issues and equality.
The participation of Qatari women in diplomatic work reflects a qualitative development in Qatari society, as it combines authenticity and openness, and enriches Qatari diplomacy with visions and skills that add qualitative value to the country's foreign policy.
HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Office in Geneva, Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah said that the UN's Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda affirms that involving women in negotiations increases the likelihood of agreements succeeding and lasting in the long term. It also contributes to strengthening cultural and human ties, reflects developmental transformations in society and provides a model that reflects this, as well as building broad international networks of influence, she added.
In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Her Excellency said that Qatari women diplomats have proven over the past years their ability to serve the country in all bilateral and multilateral international forums, and have succeeded in building bridges of dialogue and enhancing understanding between different peoples and cultures, through their communication and negotiations skills that contribute to establishing a positive image of the country and enhancing its humanitarian and cultural presence on the international stage.
Today, the number of Qatari women working in the diplomatic field has increased significantly, and they work in various job grades, including leading positions. They have also proven their superior efficiency and ability in several high-ranking diplomatic positions, which confirms the Qatari leadership's confidence in the ability and efficiency of Qatari women to contribute and excel in all forums, she added.
HE Dr. Al Muftah pointed out that, through their participation in international forums, Qatari women have contributed to strengthening the international community's confidence in Qatari diplomacy, highlighting national values, expanding areas of cultural and humanitarian cooperation, and advancing negotiation and dialogue processes on many priority issues in international forums.
Regarding the achievement or diplomatic file that Her Excellency is proud to have managed and represented the State of Qatar in, she noted that among the initiatives that she is most proud to participate in are those that combine the humanitarian and developmental dimensions, and have contributed to enhancing the image of Qatar as a reliable and internationally responsibile partner, explaining further that true success in diplomatic work is not measured only by signing agreements and memoranda of understanding, but by the ability to build sustainable partnerships that reflect the country's values and its humanitarian and developmental mission.
As for the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Her Excellency Dr. Al Muftah said that she and her team at the Permanent Mission in Geneva were able to present several initiatives in the form of resolutions addressing important issues, which were adopted unanimously.
As is well known, UN resolutions issued by the UNHRC represent the pinnacle of joint diplomatic efforts, and can have a direct impact on changing people's lives for the better.
Among the important initiative in this regard, Qatar is leading a draft resolution at the current 62nd session of the Human Rights Council on protecting health care in armed conflict, which is a major concern for the international community due to the spread and increasing scope of armed conflicts, Her Excellency added, noting that this resolution is expected to have a significant impact on the international humanitarian landscape concerning the promotion and protection of the right to health during armed conflicts.
HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Office in Geneva, Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah said that, as part of strengthening the efficiency of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, she served as a member of the Council President's facilitators' group representing the Asian Group, which is tasked with evaluating and reviewing the Council's work over the past period.
On the other hand, the Qatari delegation worked to build bridges of understanding between the various regional groups within the HRC in particular and the international community in Geneva, through the launch of the Qatar Council, an informal meeting organized by the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar in Geneva, which brings together a number of permanent delegates and senior officials of the UN and international organizations, to discuss many of the issues and challenges facing the world today and reaching understandings about them, and working to strengthen multilateral international action.
She noted that she also contributed to holding the first round of the strategic dialogue between the State of Qatar, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the World Health Organization (WHO) in May 2025, to strengthen international cooperation in the humanitarian, development, and health fields.
Her Excellency participated in submitting a number of resolutions at the WHO, most notably the resolution titled "Health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem," which was adopted by consensus during the special session of the WHO Executive Board held on Dec. 10, 2023.
She said that among the initiatives she is proud of is her contribution to organizing Qatar's hosting of the "Doha Best Negotiator of the Year in 2024," presented annually by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), recognizing outstanding contributions to international negotiation and mediation, and was held during the annual Doha Forum, highlighting the strengthening of technical cooperation with specialized UN agencies, such as training lawyers and judges in investment and intellectual property matters with relevant entities in the country.
Regarding the most prominent achievements and future aspirations of the new generation of women in the corridors of diplomatic work, HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Office in Geneva said the new generation of women has achieved important accomplishments through their presence in decision-making positions, international negotiations, and multilateral organizations. As for the future aspiration, it is to increase the representation of women in senior leadership positions, and to participate more in strategic, security, and economic files, as well as in mediation files, reflecting the competence and experience that women possess today, she added.
Regarding the most prominent challenges that women may face while working in the diplomatic field, HE Dr. Al Muftah affirmed that one of the most significant challenges is balancing professional and personal responsibilities, as multilateral diplomatic work requires being present and actively participating in all international organizations, adding that the successful experiences of Qatari women diplomats have proven that competence and achievement are the true standard of success, contrary to some traditional and stereotypical perceptions that confined women’s roles to specific fields.
On the role of Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) in empowering women to assume high-level diplomatic positions, Her Excellency affirmed that the QNV 2030 constituted a historic turning point in empowering Qatari women by providing equal opportunities and promoting their participation in leadership and decision-making roles, clearly reflected in women's presence in the diplomatic corps and their assumption of important leadership and representative positions, thereby strengthening their contribution to serving the country's interests at both the regional and international levels.
Her Excellency also emphasized that the diplomatic field requires specialized preparation and continuous adaptation to international developments, with training in negotiation skills being among the most prominent needs, crisis management, international protocol, political analysis, foreign languages, and intercultural communication, indicating that professional mentorship programs and learning from the experiences of diplomatic leaders are crucial elements in developing young talent. (QNA)
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