Qatar affirmed its interest in educating children and youth in developing countries, especially in societies that suffering poverty and conflict, aiming at protecting them from the organised crimes through several programmes, including the Education Above All Foundation, which is a global initiative established in 2012 by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.
This came in a speech delivered by HE Maj. Gen. Dr Abdullah al-Mal, the Adviser to HE the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Follow-up Committee on the Implementation of the Doha Declaration Global Programme, on the sidelines of an event organized by the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (COP10), under the title "Strengthening the resilience of youth in order to reduce the risks of their recruitment by gangs and organised crime networks."
Al-Mal said that the programmes of this institution provided educational opportunities for children and youth, and gave the poor and women real hope for the future, and to ensure the opportunity for quality, equitable and comprehensive education for vulnerable and marginalised groups as an enabling factor for human development.
He explained that the Education Above All Foundation has managed to educate more than 9mn children in developing countries so far, and the Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) has also contributed to financing projects in 45 countries, the most important of its projects related to education.
He reviewed the achievements of the global programme and said that the number of countries benefiting from the programme's activities related to direct capacity-building, according to the statistics of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, reached 186 countries, including 36,000 youths, and 65 children.
He pointed out that the programme transformed the recommendations of the Doha Declaration into programmes on the ground, especially within the education for justice pillar and the crime prevention pillar for youth through sport.
He added that Qatar was proud of the global programme achievements, which over the past five years has managed to achieve significant results in enhancing education on crime and criminal justice in primary, secondary and university education, developing knowledge tools and enhancing the capacities of teachers to facilitate education on crime, justice and the rule of law.
He noted that Unesco also contributed to implementing parts of this educational program according to its competence, noting that the program also contributed to enhancing the ability of member states to use sport as an effective tool to prevent crimes and build life skills for youth.
In conclusion, HE Maj. Gen. Dr Abdullah Al Mal, the Advisor to HE the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Follow-up Committee on the Implementation of the Doha Declaration, stated that Qatar is looking forward to the World Cup 2022 to spread awareness through sports with the aim of protecting youth, where young people will participate in this global gathering who have been able to transform from a marginalized group exposed to the dangers of organized crime and drugs to a positive and effective force in their societies.
