AILYN AGONIA

DOHA THE high level event on women in development at the ongoing Unctad XIII called for an inclusive approach towards development and globalisation on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Qatar Museums Authority Board of Trustees Chairperson HE Sheikha al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani emphasised the cornerstone role women play in growth.

Citing the role of women in the recent changes that swept the Arab world, she said the current situation makes it imperative for women to look at what society expects of them.

She expressed strong belief that Qatar, under the leadership of the Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani and Her Highness Sheikha Moza, will make all efforts enabling women to play a role in achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Qatar will remain faithful to the principles and undertakings and do all to ensure that family and women remain an important part of the process of development, Mayassa who is also the Chairperson of Reach Out To Asia (ROTA), said.

The event attended by woman leaders and delegates from Qatar and other countries, including Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, reiterated the value and impact of active participation of women in the process of development at a macroeconomic level. Gender considerations in other areas of development including equal access to employment were also discussed.

Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage and Conference President HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al Kuwari and Unctad Secretary-General HE Supachai Panitchpakdi also attended. The Unctad official, in his statement on the occasion, urged policymakers to be mindful of how the policies they make affect the distribution of wealth in the society.

Sheikh Hasina spoke of her country’s efforts to empower women and said that educating girls was one of her government’s key programmes.

“Education is the most effective instrument to spark women’s empowerment,” said Hasina.

Former president of Finland and Co-Chair of the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on Global Sustainability Tarja Kaarina Halonen also reiterated the importance of education coupled with a welfare model. “A welfare society gives women possibility to economic equality.

If you give girls and boys equal opportunity in education, girls will do better not because they are smarter but because they understand that by doing well in education they could do more,” she said.

Qatari Businesswomen Association Vice-Chairwoman Aisha al Fardan, said, “If we invest in women it means we are investing in the entire society.” She also underlined the need to strengthen and build the capacities of women to enable them compete in the society.