New York (QNA) The State of Qatar has affirmed its commitment to continue its tireless efforts to promote and protect the rights of the elderly, and work to remove all obstacles that could prevent them from living in dignity and well-being in the shadow of their families and society, and to ensure their participation in the construction and development process at all levels. This came in the statement of the State of Qatar made by Mrs. Najat Daham Al-Abdullah, Director of the Family Affairs Department at the Ministry of Social Development and the Family, before the twelfth session of the United Nations Open-ended Working Group on Aging.

The statement of the State of Qatar noted Cabinet Resolution No. (26) of 2019, which was ratified by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the country, which is the decision according to which the National Committee on Women, Children, the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities was established, headed by Minister of Social Development and Family. In this regard, the statement pointed out that the committee aims to protect and promote the rights of women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities, and to propose the necessary means to promote and follow up the achievement of the goals contained in international conventions and covenants related to them.

He stressed that the State of Qatar has paid increasing attention to human rights, especially the elderly, and has taken in this regard legislative, legal, administrative and other appropriate measures to implement those rights and provide the means to root, develop and modernize them within the framework of integrated social development, and added: "This interest was based on references Nationality, headed by the permanent constitution of the State of Qatar.

The statement pointed out the launch of Qatar National Vision 2030, the First National Development Strategy (2011-2016) and the Second National Development Strategy (2018-2022) to serve as a clear road map for Qatar's future. The statement of the State of Qatar stated that the strategy aims to balance the achievements that achieve economic growth and its human, natural and human resources, so that it is comprehensive and benefits the citizens and residents of Qatar in various aspects of their lives.

In its statement, the State of Qatar highlighted the most important policies and measures it has taken to protect the elderly from “Covid-19”, noting that most of the institutions related to the elderly in a country in Qatar have taken precautionary measures to confront the spread of the virus, including the Ministry of Public Health, which By taking all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of the elderly, providing them with social and psychological support in a systematic manner, delivering treatment services and providing them with medicines in their homes, and giving priority to the elderly in receiving the anti-Coronavirus vaccination.

The statement referred to the role of the Ministry of Social Development and the Family, and its creation of 33 electronic services on the ministry's website to facilitate access to services while continuing the services provided by the ministry without attending in person. The statement of the State of Qatar pointed to the most important legislation and achievements made by the state in the field of elderly rights work, especially in the areas of "the contribution of the elderly to sustainable development" and "economic security", referring to the Social Security Law and the rules for granting it to the stipulated categories, to obtain a security pension. An elderly person who is over sixty years of age and who does not have a capable breadwinner or sufficient source of income for subsistence.

The statement indicated that social security provides financial assistance and other allowances and exemptions for the elderly, including housing, according to the law. In its statement, the State of Qatar emphasized the effective role of civil society institutions, including the Qatar Foundation for the Care of the Elderly (Ehsan), which provides care and social services for the elderly in the provision of their treatment and care and help them overcome the difficulties they face in the areas of economic, social and rehabilitation life, and nursing and treatment services Natural and providing counseling in the field of healthy diet, and psychological, social, health and legal counseling for the elderly.