Around 400 personalities representing social movements, pro-development groups, women’s groups and trade unions and other organisations will attend the Civil Society Forum (CSF) to be hosted in Qatar later this month.

The forum will be in parallel with thirteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XIII) from April 17 to 26 at the Qatar National Convention Centre.

It is being held in partnership with the host civil society organization in Doha, the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS) and in close coordination with NGOs from all over the world.

The delegates will have the opportunity to present their vision of for future sustainable solutions in a turbulent world, affecting them by its economic fluctuation, and build on the legacy of holding this forum since UNCTAD XI in Sao Paulo (Brazil) in 2004 and UNICTAD XII in Accra (Ghana) in 2008.

Mohammed Al Maadeed, director of Awareness & Programme at the National Human Rights Committee, and head of the organizing committee for the forum said: “The NHRC is honored to be chosen as the local partner to host the Civil Society Forum.”

“It is an acknowledgement of the pivotal role we play in defending human rights and developing civil society organizations. Hosting the forum proves Qatar is moving in the right direction by giving civil society a key role in sustainable development.”

“The importance of civil society in sustainable development has been stressed many times in Qatar, but in particular by Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Heir Apparent and head of the Supreme Oversight Committee for implementing Qatar National Vision 2030,” Al Maadeed added.

The Civil Society Forum will meet in plenary April17–19 at the Qatar National Convention Center, prior to the official opening of UNCTAD XIII, gathering representatives from the NGOs, the private sector and the academia, to discuss the themes and sub-themes of the conference, and build consensus and finalize the civil society position document to the conference.

The document will then be presented at the opening plenary of the UNCTAD XIII Committee of the Whole, which will take place on April 21.

The Civil Society Forum will continue from April 22 to 25 in parallel with the conference, through plenary sessions, workshops and discussion groups on the issues which matter the most to the civil society, including enhancing the engagement of civil society in UNCTAD’s activities. – TradeArabia News Service