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Doha: on Friday 11 July 2008, The world will celebrate the annual World
Population Day initiated by July 11, 1989 on the occasion of the “Day of 5
billions People”. The event aims at raising awareness on population issues
within the context of the sustainable development. Celebrated worldwide,
activities will include public meetings, exhibitions and public campaigns to
focus on yearly specific topics. This year focus will be on efforts made by all
countries to eradicate poverty, gender discrimination, mothers' fatalities and
inadequate health systems.
Speaking for the occasion, the PPC Chairman, HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jabor bin
Jassem Al Thani, affirmed the importance of the population issues for the State
of Qatar. He reconfirmed the keenness of the country, reflected by the
directives of HH the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, on giving
population issues top priority within the government concerns integrating it
within the different development strategies to improve the population's quality
of life.
His Excellency added that "The celebration this year has specific
characteristics, as it coincides with the release of three documents on Qatar's
population policy, prepared by the PPC, as base evidence to the government’s
interest in population issues and importance for the current and future of
Qatari community”.
Sheikh Hamad pointed out that “Qatar's population policy, based on the fact that
Human being is the scope and tool of development, aims at; securing decent and
stable life quality for the State’s people of Qatar, building individual
capabilities, and improving the level of participation in the community progress
and welfare. These, designed by the year’s priority recommendations of the
United nations Population Fund (UNFPA), are based on a range of objectives, to
include the creation of balanced rights and obligations, gender equities,
population's general health improvement, and maternity health ".
According to Sheikh Hamad, the PPC will celebrate "Qatar's Population Day" this
year through the implementation of a range of varieties to include in
association with the UNFPA and several local organizations, a festival which
features cultural and awareness programs.
Since its establishment in 2004, the PPC has been responsible for developing
institutional framework, coordinating development activities related to national
population policies and programs as well as to monitoring and evaluation of
implementation.
Senior official at the PPC noted that the Committee is continuously updating
regulations and information aiming at incorporating population issues as
reproductive health, gender equities and other relevant issues required for
socio-economic development. The official added that the release of the three
population policy documents (challenges, principles, objectives and population
work plan) in collaboration with UNFPA and other government/private
organizations is a remarkable achievement.
He added, “The three population policy documents were discussed in an open
seminar attended by all government and non-government organisations concerned
with population issue and adopted according to transparent and accountable
approaches. The seminar discussions took place in a friendly atmosphere to
ensure full transparency, independent assessment and freedom of expression. It
enhanced the conviction among all participants about the importance of
population issues in Qatar and about the significance of effective
implementation of the population work programme”.
PPC developed its plan of action to conduct during the period 2008-2011 studies
and activities to include periodical bulletins, studies and field surveys as
part of its contribution to enriching population research in the country. In
this context, a study on "the Social Development Indices in the State of Qatar"
has recently been finalised. A team of researchers is currently working on a
referral guidebook entitled "Qatar's Population", and on studies on "Trends of
Births and Deaths in the State of Qatar", " Marriage and Divorce in Qatar" and
"The Impact of Population Growth on the Natural Environment".
Ends.
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