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Qatar took part in the high-level General Assembly meeting convened to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, which an OHCHR background paper described as the most comprehensive global framework to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The session occurred on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York, according to a Qatar News Agency dispatch. Sheikha Hanouf bint Abdulrahman Al-Thani, the director of the International Organizations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented the Gulf state and delivered its national statement.
Al-Thani reaffirmed Qatar’s full support for the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action during the proceedings, the news agency reported. She outlined the country’s dedication to promoting human rights, equality and non-discrimination while advancing tolerance, coexistence and respect for cultural diversity at both national and international levels. The representative’s intervention aligned with the meeting’s theme of mobilizing global public support for the declaration’s full implementation.
Qatar will continue national and international campaigns to eliminate discrimination and expand inclusion together with community participation, Al-Thani stated in her remarks. The director highlighted associated domestic initiatives and legislation that advance these priorities as well as Qatar’s contributions to addressing inequalities and strengthening social protection systems. Such work complements the declaration’s objectives, which UN documentation positions as a victim-centered blueprint recognizing the experiences of multiple vulnerable groups.
Al-Thani drew attention to Qatar’s hosting of the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha in 2025, framing it as a concrete example of the country’s engagement on related social issues, according to the Qatar News Agency. That summit produced a political declaration that has informed subsequent UN discussions on development and protection frameworks. An OHCHR summary of the Durban anniversary noted that 25 years after adoption, the milestone allows for stock-taking of progress and renewal of commitments to tackle persistent challenges.
The Qatari official reiterated support for ongoing international endeavors to achieve the complete and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The high-level meeting, which took place on September 28, 2026, aimed to identify strategies for renewed political will and collective action while reviewing opportunities at national, regional and global scales, an OHCHR event overview indicated. Qatar’s participation reflects its established pattern of involvement in UN human rights and social development forums.
