(MENAFN- Gulf Times) HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday announced an initiative for the education and professional development of displaced children in the region.
Addressing the opening session of the 13th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which was attended by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the premier said the initiative was aimed at saving a generation of displaced children and youth at the regional level by establishing a fund for their education and professional development.
The initiative focuses on providing a dual system which combines school education and vocational training. It will lead to building schools in refugee camps in co-ordination with the hosting countries.
HE Sheikh Abdullah sought international co-operation for the successful implementation of the initiative and urged governments, international organisations, donor agencies, civil societies and non-governmental organisations to support it.
The opening session at the Qatar National Convention Centre was attended by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN General Assembly's president of the 69th session Sam Kutesa, Economic and Social Council president Martin Sajdik, UN Office on Drugs and Crime executive director Yury Fedotov and Co-operation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) secretary general Abdul Latif bin Rashid al-Zayani. A large number of ministers, official delegates and several dignitaries are also taking part in the congress.
The Prime Minister, who is also the president of the congress, said: "This congress comes at a time when we witness growing crime in all its forms and the presence of conflict, tension and lack of security around the world. All this has led to rising waves of violence, terrorism and corruption."
He warned that duplication in the implementation of international law standards represented the major challenge in crime prevention and criminal justice. "It constitutes a major obstacle to achieve the desired development of people, as serious crimes and violations of international conventions and human rights are committed in some areas of the world. It also gives impunity for the offenders because of the selective method in dealing with some of these crimes."
Sheikh Abdullah also called for strengthening regional and international co-operation and dealing with crimes, taking into account social, economic and political dimensions.
"The rule of law on the local, regional and international levels is among the most important guarantees for achieving development and justice. It provides the appropriate environment for the promotion and protection of human rights, and ensures that citizens do their duties towards society."
He highlighted that Qatar had always responded effectively and engaged with regional and international efforts through the development of laws and regulations for crime prevention and criminal justice.
At the opening session, three delegates from the Doha Youth Forum, which was held earlier in connection with the congress, presented their recommendations and handed them over to the UN chief who in turn presented the same to the president of the congress.
After the inaugural session, the Prime Minister and the UN chief jointly opened an exhibition . Spread over an area of 10,000sqm, the exhibition is an initiative of Qatar.
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