State of Qatar affirmed its commitment while promoting and protecting the rights of the elderly, giving them priority in its comprehensive social policies, enabling them to participate in public life, and providing the best services and care to ensure a decent life for them in their society.

This came in the State of Qatar's statement delivered by Ms. Reem Al-Ajmi, Director of the Social Welfare Department at the Ministry of Social Development and Family, before the thirteenth United Nations session of the "Open-ended Working Group on Aging", which is currently being held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

In UN’s session, Ms. Al-Ajmi noted the focus of this session on issues of the right to health, health services and social inclusion for the elderly, which have faced great challenges since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. She also stressed that the State of Qatar attaches great importance to protecting the rights of the elderly, as they are an integral part of the fabric Qatari family and society, where the percentage of citizens over the age of 65 is 2% of the population.

Indicating that the state has taken many measures at the legislative and executive levels to implement their rights within the framework of integrated social development policies, these measures are also based on national references, foremost of which is the permanent constitution of the State of Qatar, Qatar National Vision 2030, and development plans and strategies.

"The elderly have been included among the groups that have a high priority in the state's policies in the social, health, economic and other fields," Al-Ajmi stated. This came through the work of the National Committee for Women, Children, the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities, which was established in 2019 and headed by the Minister of Social Development and Family. She explained that the committee undertakes several tasks, including proposing the necessary ways to promote and follow up the achievement of the goals stipulated in international conventions and covenants related to different groups. “The committee undertakes several tasks, including proposing the necessary ways to promote and follow up the achievement of the goals stipulated in international conventions and covenants related to different groups, especially the elderly,” she declared.

Regarding health care policies and services for the elderly, the director of the Ministry's Social Welfare Department pointed out that the state provides a comprehensive and specialized health care system. It can also be obtained in both the public and private sectors. Not only that, but this primary care is provided free of charge in the public sector through many non-profit medical institutions such as Hamad Medical Corporation.

Ms. Reem Al-Ajmi noted the cooperation and integration between the government sector and civil society institutions in providing services to the elderly, such as the Center for Empowerment and Elderly Care "Ehsan", which provides various health and social care services to the elderly, citizens, and residents alike in the State of Qatar. In a related context, she also affirmed the State of Qatar's keenness on the issue of social inclusion of young people to participate effectively in family and community activities by organizing and implementing programs designed to help their integration into society.

At the regional and international levels, she indicated that Qatar attaches great importance to the elderly in relief programs and development assistance at the regional and international levels, referring in this context to the efforts of the Qatar Red Crescent Society, which provides health, social and relief services in more than 14 countries around the world.

Concluding her speech, Ms. Reem Al-Ajmi stressed the commitment of the State of Qatar to continue its efforts to promote and protect the rights of the elderly, work towards their integration into society and ensure their involvement in the process of construction and development at all levels.