Government

Rome: Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council HE Dr. Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti affirmed the State of Qatar's firm position towards supporting the stability of the Middle East region, stressing that achieving international peace and security is a top priority for Qatari policy. This came in her speech before the 19th Plenary Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, held in Rome, Italy, under the title: 'Security and development challenges in the Mediterranean region'. Her Excellency referred to Qatar's role in mediating to resolve conflicts and keenness to employ its international relations and openness to support peaceful solutions and enhance cooperation between countries. Dr. Hamda Al Sulaiti addressed the developments in the Gaza Strip, highlighting the extent of the destruction caused by the war on the Strip while referring to the Qatari efforts in cooperation with partners in the ceasefire, noting that the Israeli occupation is still continuing its aggression, which hinders reconstruction operations and the entry of humanitarian aid. She stressed Qatar's categorical rejection of calls to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, stressing that peace and stability in the region can only be achieved through a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions. In her speech, Her Excellency also addressed regional and international issues discussed by the Plenary Assembly, including counter-terrorism efforts, pointing to Qatar's hosting of two UN counter-terrorism offices and its role in promoting preventive diplomacy to prevent conflicts. She stressed Qatar's commitment to protecting the environment and combating climate change, highlighting the initiatives launched by the country in this field in light of its strategies and plans, including the Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy, in addition to its plans to reduce carbon emissions. Her Excellency touched on the importance of artificial intelligence and its growing role in various sectors and Qatar's efforts to develop legislation to ensure the safe and responsible use of this technology, in line with its National Vision 2030. She also highlighted Qatar's efforts to promote dialogue among civilizations and cultural exchange through its support for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations initiative, the establishment of the Qatar Committee for the Alliance of Civilizations, and the launch of the Qatar Global Award for Dialogue Among Civilizations. The session discussed several regional and international issues within its agenda, including human trafficking, the right to safe drinking water, economic transformations, food security challenges, and geopolitical developments. Read Also Shura Council Secretary-General meets Bahraini counterpart

Government

Manama: Secretary-General of the Shura Council, HE Nayef bin Mohammed Al Mahmoud, met today in Manama with Secretary-General of the Shura Council of the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain, HE Kareema Mohammed Al-Abbasi. During the meeting, they discussed various topics related to strengthening cooperation between the two sides and the role of the General Secretariat in legislative councils in supporting and enhancing joint Gulf parliamentary work. They also explored ways to exchange experiences and expertise.

General

Doha, Qatar: In a groundbreaking partnership, the UNESCO Regional office for the Gulf States and Yemen and the Arab Educational Training Centre for the Gulf States (AETCGS) announce the launch of two key training toolkits developed to support educators, institutions, and education actors advance inclusive education practices and harness the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) within educational frameworks. The Inclusive Education Toolkit offers officers in the Ministries of Education (MOEs) in the Gulf States and Yemen essential resources, strategies and methodologies aimed at fostering equitable, accessible and inclusive learning environments for all learners, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds. The Artificial Intelligence and Education Toolkit is designed to be used as a training framework for staff at the Ministries of Education (MOE) in the Gulf States and Yemen and for stakeholders working in different areas of education. It aims to ensure that users achieve an appropriate level of critical literacy in both the human and technological dimensions of Artificial Intelligence. The toolkit provides essential insights into foundational knowledge and theories on Artificial Intelligence and education, and related normative frameworks; and a deeper understanding of the use of Artificial Intelligence in education, including challengesand possibilities in relation to ensuring greater inclusivity in education. Dr. Fatma Al-Maadheed, Director of the Arab Educational Training Centre for the Gulf States (AETCGS) emphasizes the importance of these two toolkits as part of the center’s commitment to regional leadership in education and training. She views the collaboration with UNESCO as an opportunity to strengthen knowledge exchange and expertise across the region with a focus on high global standards. This partnership will enhance cooperation in educational development, support innovation, and contribute to improving the overall quality of education and training. Salah Khaled, UNESCO Representative to the Gulf States and Yemen and Director of the UNESCO Office in Doha, highlighted the significance of this collaboration: “The partnership between UNESCO and AETCGS reflects our shared commitment to advance inclusive education in the Gulf States and Yemen and support education actors and policy makers with the knowledge and tools necessary to create educational experiences that provide every learner with the opportunity to succeed and better learning environments for everyone”. Referring to the development of the Toolkit on Artificial Intelligence and Education, Khaled also mentioned: “We are pleased to collaborate with AETCGS on such a topical theme and provide greater understanding to concerned actors around the potentials and challenges related to the use of AI in education, including Generative AI. This joint work is deeply rooted in UNESCO’s engagement in promoting the ethics of AI and promoting critical AI literacies”. In an era of rapid education transformation, the two newly developed toolkits will respond to the needs of educators and institutions to promote inclusive educational practices and foster innovation in teaching and learning processes.