by Lady Michelle-Jennifer Santos, Founder & Publisher
March 7, 2013 (TSR) – The 22nd session of Human Rights Council held a “High-Level Panel on Human Rights Mainstreaming” on Friday, March 1, 2013 where UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivered the opening remarks.
One of the keynote speakers was HRH Sheikha Alia bint Ahmed bin Saif al Thani, Consort of the Emir of the State of Qatar, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development and UNESCO’s Special Envoy for Basic and Higher Education. A discussing about education and MDGs, she highlighted that “education is one of the most powerful tools that can break the cycle of conflicts”.
Her Royal Highness condemned Israel’s suspension of cooperation with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
During the speech at the Human Rights Council, Her Royal Highness slammed Israel’s no show:
“We must not allow the legitimacy of the Human Rights Council to be jeopardized by one country. I urge council to use all appropriate measures to ensure that this review continues to be an equal process.”
EDUCATION CAN BREAK THE CYCLE OF CONFLICTS
Today, 28 million children across the world are denied of schooling because of conflict.
She also pointed out that Israel is the biggest obstacle to the education of the Palestinians,
“It is unacceptable that education continues to be a victim of conflict. Take the example of Gaza, where the impact of the blockage continues to have a crippling effect, especially on education. Schools have been damaged. Supplies, from chairs to textbooks and pencils, cannot get in.
Since 2009, the Al Fakhoora program has been working with UNDP to enable young people to pursue higher education. Helping to reconstruct buildings. Providing psycho-social support.”
Her Royal Highness further condemned Israel’s failure to comply with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, in a flagrant defiance of all international resolutions, saying such a position will negatively affect the credibility and effectiveness of the Human Rights Council.
“It is seeking to address some of the damage caused by same country that is trying now to escape scrutiny of its human rights record through the Universal Periodic Review.”
“In the shadow of the continued and increasing Israeli violations of human rights in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories during 2012, we hoped that the report of the High Commissioner would addresses this matter clearly,” said Sheikha Alia.
Otherwise, Qatar agreed with the contents of the annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
For Her Royal Highness Sheika Moza bint Nazer full official statement at the United Nations, read below:
