QATARI WOMEN

            Women's Affairs Department
            Field of Charitable Work
            Field of Politics
            Social Development Center
          

Introduction

The Qatari woman exercises her full right to take her role in society and act as a vital element within the development process of the country. She has proven her ability to give and participate alongside her fellow men in all assignments and fields, and her participation has been especially enhanced by the encouragement of H.H. the Emir and the patronage of H.H. the wife of the Emir, Sheikha Mouza.

The Role of H.H. the Wife of H.H. the Emir

Her Highness has given prominence to the role of Qatari women and created an environment that encourages them to meet their social obligations and participate in public life. H.H. Sheikha Mouza endorses women's conferences, which discuss women's issues and recommend solutions for the problems and challenges that confront women who work outside the home.
She has directed most of her attention to education programs, maintaining a direct and continuous association with government and private education institutions. She frequently attends and effectively participates in the meetings of education leaders in all scientific, educational and sports matters. A keen observer of the news will notice that when Her Highness accompanies H.H. the Emir during his official visits, she shows particular interest in visiting educational institutions and universities. Her Highness' keenness to contact education leaders is also conspicuous, together with her desire to familiarize herself with modern educational programs, with the aim of adopting those aspects which do not contradict Islamic teachings and social principles.
Her Highness has spared no effort to bring about a qualitative change in the standard of education and produce a generation capable of keeping pace with the developments and technologies of the times. She was one of the supporters of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, established in 1996 as a private and independent entity. One of the first achievements of the Foundation was the establishment of Qatar Academy, whose council of trustees is chaired by a leading Qatari woman Sheikha Al-Misnad. Among other pioneering projects that emerged from the Foundation are the Family Development Center and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)-Qatar College of Design Arts.
H.H. Sheikha Mouza did not ignore her sons and daughters, the disabled. She has honored them by supporting and sponsoring care activities carried out on their behalf. She has worked hard to establish specialized societies to care for the deaf, the dumb and the blind, such as Al Noor Institute for the Blind. The National Committee for Children with Special Needs is another example. It was established in June 1998 with the initial aim of preparing an extensive study on the establishment and management of Shafallah Center. The Committee is chaired by Sheikha Ghalia Bint Mohammad Al-Thani and has in its membership a number of medical doctors and specialists.
Her Highness, furthermore, sponsored several ladies-only functions such as the conference entitled: The Woman between the Family and the Workplace, which was held in 1997. The conference recommended several activities to help women realize psychological equilibrium and stability and outline approaches geared to support and protect the family. She also sponsored the first and second women's conferences held in March 1994 and May 1996 respectively.

Various Roles of Qatari Women

The Women's Affairs Department

The Women's Affairs Department was established in 1996 by a decision from the Council of Ministers. It was assigned the roles of finding work opportunities compatible with the Qatari women's nature and role in society. Other responsibilities of the Department include proposing policies and actions to provide maternity and child care services, developing and grooming women in order to raise the standards of their competence and potential and organizing and supervising female cultural, religious and social functions and activities.

The Women Affairs Committee

This Committee is affiliated to the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, which was established in 1998. It is charged with caring for women's affairs by proposing policies, plans and programs required to upgrade the potential of women culturally, economically and politically. The Committee is also concerned with encouraging women to participate in public life and take available work opportunities especially in the field of education. It sponsors the general rights of women, their rights of assuming leading roles and key positions in society and their role in development process. Enhancing the role of private societies to enable them carry out women-oriented functions and encouraging voluntary work and participation in local and international activities dealing with women affairs are also important parts of the Committee's goals.

Qatari Women in the Field of Education

The field of education was the doorway through which women entered into the workforce. Statistics show that the number of Qatari female students in the State-run schools for the current academic year has risen at greater rates than the number of male students. Working women also represent a sizable ratio of 52% of the total workforce at the Ministry of Education.
Working women at Qatar University either as staff members or administrative personnel account for more than 50% of the total workforce of the University. They number 773 out of 1169 administrative personnel and 92 out of 176 staff members.

Qatari Women in the Field of Health

Qatari women started to participate in the field of health since the late 1960s when they joined the corps of nursing. Women first joined the nursing school, which aimed to prepare national cadres to work in this field. Qatari nurses represent 21% of the total number of 272 nurses working at the Ministry of Public Health.
Qatari women also took joined the field of medicine and graduated to work at Hamad Medical Corporation and health centers. Women also work in preventive health, which comprises the sections of Contagious Decease Control, Vocational Health, Environmental Health, Food Control, Central Laboratories and Al Matar Clinic. According to the statistics of the Ministry of Civil Service Affairs and Housing, the number of Qatari women working in the field of health amounts to 500, compared to 357 representing men working in the same field.

Qatari women in the Field of Charitable Work

Women in charitable and voluntary societies play a pivotal role in extending all kinds of help inside and outside the country. They have also been instrumental in assisting with numerous other activities to include preparing field researches on needy families and organizing charity fairs and donation and relief campaigns for stricken regions. The Qatar Red Crescent Society was the first to set up a branch for women in 1982. Other societies followed suit and the Family Development Center later joined the fold. Women work in these establishments both as volunteers and staff.

Qatari women in the Legal Field

Qatari women work at the Ministry of Justice, where three of them are heads of three sections. These are the Fatwah and Research, Legislation, Translation and Official Newsletter sections. There are also 5 legal advisors in Fatwah and Legislation House and 1 in State Cases Section.

Qatari women in the Field of Arts

Qatari women actively participate in the field of fine arts, photography, theater decor and artistic direction of TV works.

Qatari Women in the Field of Literature and Journalism

The Qatari women has plunged into the two fields of essay and fiction writing as early as the 1970s through the works of scores of female authors with varied approaches and creative aptitudes. The development of the Qatari press and the multiplicity of publications have provided a favorable atmosphere and an enticing incentive for many outstanding women writers to excel in this field.

Qatari women in the Field of Aviation

Qatari young girls joined Qatar Aeronautical College to study aviation engineering, flight and air traffic control.

Qatari women in the Field of Banking

The Qatari women started to make a stronger presence in this field especially after graduating from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. The number of Qatari females working in national and foreign banks reached 205. Banks support the Qatarization policy and provide work opportunities especially for the youths.

Qatari women in the Field of Politics

The rights of the Qatari women to vote and stand as a candidate in elections has been secured by the opening speech of H.H. the Emir given at the ordinary session of the Advisory Council in 1997. It said in that speech: (giving women the right of voting and running as candidates in elections is considered to be a wide stride on the road of popular participation in executive as well as legislative work). The percentage of women who participated in the municipal elections in 1998 reached 47%.

Qatari women in the Field of Finance and Investment

Qatar Ladies Investment Company, the first of its kind in the whole region, was established in 1998. It is equally shared by a group of Qatari ladies and Qatar National Bank. A Qatari lady, Sheikha Hanadi Bint Nasser Al-Thani, is holding the senior management post of the Company. In November 2000, the Businesswomen Forum, one of the most outstanding of its kind, was set up after securing the approval of Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which has decided that the forum would serve as one of the Chamber's committees. By doing that the Chamber is trying to provide an encouraging social atmosphere for women to play their role in the development process, increase their contribution in small trades and industrial projects and enhance their potential to take economic decisions.

Qatari Women in the Field of Tourism

Some Qatari female graduates specializing in history, archeology and museum management took on the role of tourist guides. They took over the duty of explaining archeological remains and tourist attractions in Qatar and giving detailed account on the archeological acquisitions of the museum. A number of Qatari women have joined the workforce of Doha hotels too, in a growing trend led by Qatar National Hotels Company to encourage the Qatari youths to venture into this field and increase job opportunities for women.

The Qatari Women as a member in the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

In February 2001, H.E. Sheikha Dr. Ghalya Bint Mohammad Bin Hamad Al-Thani became a member of the UN Committee on the rights of the Child after wining one of the five empty seats contested by the 21 signatory countries of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. Dr. Ghalya is to represent the State of Qatar in this position for the following four years.

Social Development Center (SDC)

Social Development Center (SDC), a non profitable organization was established in 1996 under the patronage of H.H Sheikha Mozha Bint Nasser Al-Misneed, the Consort of H.H the Emir.

SDC gives priority to the development of low-income families and women, and empower them to be self-sufficient. Strengthening the role of the family in society and protecting its social and economic stability. Raising the economic situation of low income families and assisting them to be self sufficient. Empowering women economically and improving their status in society. Monitoring and scientifically studying social problems and proposing solutions for them. Preserving popular heritage and reviving traditional marketable crafts.

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Over 20 pages of the report, "Women's Rights in the Middle East and North Africa: Citizenship and Justice", were dedicated to Qatar, noting that since accession to power, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar has taken gradual steps to introduce political, social, and economic reforms, some of which have benefited women.

The study indicated that in 1999, women were granted equal suffrage, and the country held the first elections for its 29-member municipal council. Approximately 97% of voters approved a new constitution in a referendum on April 29, 2003. And the new constitution formally grants women equality and provides for a legislative advisory council comprising 30 elected and 15 appointed members. In April 2003, the first woman cabinet minister was elected in Qatar’s second municipal council elections.

 

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Encouraged by the leadership and government, Qatari women have been able to effectively get engaged with the social, economic and political activities and have proved capable of positively contributing to all aspects of life. Talking to qatarinfo.net, the general secretary of QBWF Ibtehag Mohammed Al-Ahmadani, said that what women realized in Qatar is an achievement. It reflects the economic development in the country and the progressing awareness of this category, she added.