United Nations (UN) Secretary-General HE António Guterres recently spoke before an audience in Education City on ‘The Importance of Multilateralism in a Time of Unprecedented Challenge’. The lecture was hosted by Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF).
QF Chairperson HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser attended the lecture together with HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and QF CEO and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at HBKU. Representatives from ministries and diplomatic missions in Qatar were also there, led by HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN.
The lecture formed part of the Education City Speaker Series, a QF initiative which provides a platform for the community to engage with local and international experts on a range of issues, to promote discourse and sharing of knowledge.
The UN Secretary-General said that young people have an absolutely crucial role, more than ever, in the evolution of society, because technology is evolving in such a way that his granddaughters understand it better than him. He also said that the contribution of young people to the drafting of policies and solutions to problems is essential.
Speaking on the sidelines Guterres said that he’s a great admirer of Qatar Foundation.
Sheikha Moza bint Nasser has been an important partner of the UN – when I was United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, she was extremely instrumental in providing education to hundreds of thousands of refugees living in extremely dramatic circumstances. I want to pay tribute to all those who work at QF for their contributions to the well-being of so many people in different parts of the world.’
HBKU President Dr Ahmad M Hasnah said that hosting the UN Secretary-General is a proud moment for our academic institution, which strives to serve as a hub of discourse on topical global issues.
Many of the issues we face today are of a global scale as they often transcend geographical and political boundaries, and can no longer be addressed individually or independently.’
Dr Hasnah also mentioned that the vision of Qatar, as represented by the Amir of Qatar, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is to achieve increased global recognition, and to contribute effectively to the international arena through politics, economy, and diplomacy. Qatar also aspires to be a valuable participant in discussions on regional and global crises.
Guterres is a Portuguese politician and diplomat, serving as the ninth Secretary General of the United Nations. From June 2005 to December 2015 he held the position of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.