The State of Qatar announced today that it will donate an additional $5 million to the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund’s (GCERF) replenishment campaign.

This came in the State of Qatar’s statement, readout by HE Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Counterterrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution Dr. Mutlaq bin Majed Al Qahtani, at the GCERF pledging conference, which was held on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly under the title future without extremism.

The conference was hosted by HE President of the Republic of the Niger Mohamed Bazoum and President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis. The conference was chaired by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair who is also the Chief Executive Chairman of the Institute for Global Change.

HE the Special Envoy renewed in his speech, the State of Qatar’s commitment to supporting international cooperation on combatting violent extremism towards a safer world and a future free of violent extremism.

He noted that the State of Qatar was one of the fund’s founding members, contributing $10 million and helping through its membership raise awareness of the fund by hosting a number of international events in Doha and at the UN headquarters, as well as virtually.

He stressed that this partnership was natural given that the fund’s mission was in line with Qatar’s comprehensive approach for preventing and combatting violent extremism and terrorism.

HE Dr. Al Qahtani said that many of the State of Qatar’s international initiatives aim to enhance a culture of peace, tolerance, coexistence, and building peaceful and fair societies to enhance political, social, and economic stability. His Excellency added that Qatar does so by directing initiatives and assistance to improve social and economic conditions through emergency and development aid; Through education, such as providing access to education for more than 10 million out-of-school children; as well as creating job opportunities with a focus on youth.

His Excellency highlighted the youth programme as one of the initiatives done by the State of Qatar in partnership with United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office, as well as the program the State of Qatar established to provide training to more than two million young people in the Arab World, as well as providing them with job opportunities and economic empowerment.

HE the Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the State of Qatar harnesses sport, including the opportunity to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, to promote the values of peace and tolerance.

He noted that the impact of the GCERF is reflected in the number of direct beneficiaries that have exceeded millions in many countries in just a few years since its establishment.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs