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Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
Shura discusses proposal to enhance services, privileges for the elderly
QNA Doha The Shura Council on Monday discussed the proposal to enhance services andprivileges for the elderly people. The Shura Council, chaired by Speaker HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, reviewed the report of the Social Affairs, Labor, and Housing Committee regarding the proposal submitted by a member Issa bin Ahmed Al Nasr, which focuses on providing enhanced services and privileges to the elderly. The proposal seeks to strengthen care and support for this respected group, ensuring their needs are met across all aspects of life. Reviewing the report, Chairman of the Social Affairs, Labor, and Housing Committee HEAbdulrahman bin Yousef Al Khulaifi, emphasised that caring for the elderly aligns with the principles of family cohesion and social justice outlined in Qatar National Vision 2030. He highlighted that this group deserves greater attention and appreciation in recognition of their valuable contributions to society and the nation. Al Khulaifi further explained that although various initiatives and services for the elderly currently exist, they remain fragmented and lack a unified legislative framework. This calls for the development of specific legislation to safeguard their rights and improve the quality of services provided to them. The proposal presented several key recommendations, including the enactment of a dedicated law to grant the elderly distinct privileges and facilities in their daily lives. It also called for the allocation of designated parking spaces for the elderly in both public and private areas across the country, ensuring these spaces are located near main entrances and clearly marked with appropriate signage. The proposal further recommended enhancing healthcare services for the elderly by giving them priority in booking medical appointments at public health institutions, with the option to refer them to contracted private medical centers, in addition to providing a comprehensive health insurance system that fully covers their medical expenses. Additional recommendations included allocating special areas for the elderly in government service centers to streamline their transactions and exempting them from certain public service fees. The proposal also called for issuing official identification cards for the elderly by a competent authority, enabling them to access discounts and benefits in collaboration with the private sector. Following a thorough discussion of the report and its recommendations, the Shura Council approved the proposal and resolved to submit it to the esteemed government. During the same session, the Shura Council also approved a draft law concerning lost and abandoned property and a draft law on water, both in their amended forms. The Shura Council referred the drafts to the esteemed government after reviewing the reports of the specialized committees and discussing their details with the honorable members. Separately, the Council discussed a draft law amending certain provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Law, promulgated by Law No (20) of 2019, as referred by the esteemed government. The Council decided to forward the draft to the Internal and External Affairs Committee for further study and reporting. The Council also discussed a draft law amending certain provisions of the Lawyers' Law, promulgated by Law No. (23) of 2006, which had been referred by the esteemed government. The Council resolved to refer the draft to the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee for detailed review and submission of its report. Furthermore, the Council approved amendments to certain provisions of the Shura Council's internal regulations, issued under Law No. (8) of 2024, following its review of the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee's report. The amendments were subsequently referred to the esteemed government. The session continued with the Council reviewing the report of the Social Affairs, Labor, and Housing Committee regarding the esteemed government's response to the Council's earlier proposal on reorganizing and monitoring domestic worker recruitment offices. The Council made the appropriate decision on the matter. The Council also reviewed the esteemed government's response to its previous proposal concerning the promotion of national values and identity within Qatari society. It was decided to refer the matter to the Education, Culture, Sports, and Media Affairs Committee for further study and feedback. The Council later reviewed the report on the participation of its delegation in the third edition of the South-South Parliamentary Dialogue Forum, held last April in Rabat, Morocco. The forum was titled 'Interregional and Continental Dialogues Among Countries of the South: A Key Lever to Address New Challenges to International Cooperation and Achieve Security, Stability, and Shared Development.' Additionally, the Council reviewed the report on the participation of HE Issa bin Ahmed Al Nasr in a parliamentary symposium organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union under the theme 'Digital Challenges to Peace, Inclusion, and Human Rights: The Role of Social Media Platforms in Spreading Hate Speech and Strategies to Combat It,' which was held virtually last March. A number of senior officials from the Center for Empowerment and Care of the Elderly (Ehsan) attended the session.
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
Shura Council discusses proposal to enhance services, privileges for elderly
DOHA: The Shura Council has convened its regular weekly session, chaired by Speaker HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, at the Tamim bin Hamad Hall at the Council's headquarters. At the beginning of the session, Secretary-General of the Council, HE Naif bin Mohammed Al Mahmoud, read out the meeting agenda. The Council then approved the minutes of its previous session. During the session, the Council reviewed the report of the Social Affairs, Labour, and Housing Committee regarding the proposal submitted by HE Member Issa bin Ahmed Al Nasr, which focuses on providing enhanced services and privileges to the elderly. The proposal seeks to strengthen care and support for this respected group, ensuring their needs are met across all aspects of life. Reviewing the report, Chairman of the Social Affairs, Labour, and Housing Committee, HE Abdulrahman bin Yousef Al Khulaifi, emphasized that caring for the elderly aligns with the principles of family cohesion and social justice outlined in Qatar National Vision 2030. He highlighted that this group deserves greater attention and appreciation in recognition of their valuable contributions to society and the nation. Al Khulaifi further explained that although various initiatives and services for the elderly currently exist, they remain fragmented and lack a unified legislative framework. This calls for the development of specific legislation to safeguard their rights and improve the quality of services provided to them. The proposal presented several key recommendations, including the enactment of a dedicated law to grant the elderly distinct privileges and facilities in their daily lives. It also called for the allocation of designated parking spaces for the elderly in both public and private areas across the country, ensuring these spaces are located near main entrances and clearly marked with appropriate signage. The proposal further recommended enhancing healthcare services for the elderly by giving them priority in booking medical appointments at public health institutions, with the option to refer them to contracted private medical centers, in addition to providing a comprehensive health insurance system that fully covers their medical expenses. Additional recommendations included allocating special areas for the elderly in government service centers to streamline their transactions and exempting them from certain public service fees. The proposal also called for issuing official identification cards for the elderly by a competent authority, enabling them to access discounts and benefits in collaboration with the private sector. Following a thorough discussion of the report and its recommendations, the Council approved the proposal and resolved to submit it to the esteemed government. During the same session, the Council also approved a draft law concerning lost and abandoned property and a draft law on water, both in their amended forms. The Council referred the drafts to the esteemed government after reviewing the reports of the specialized committees and discussing their details with the honorable members. Separately, the Council discussed a draft law amending certain provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Law, promulgated by Law No. (20) of 2019, as referred by the esteemed government. The Council decided to forward the draft to the Internal and External Affairs Committee for further study and reporting. The Council also discussed a draft law amending certain provisions of the Lawyers' Law, promulgated by Law No. (23) of 2006, which had been referred by the esteemed government. The Council resolved to refer the draft to the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee for detailed review and submission of its report. Furthermore, the Council approved amendments to certain provisions of the Shura Council's internal regulations, issued under Law No. (8) of 2024, following its review of the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee's report. The amendments were subsequently referred to the esteemed government. The session continued with the Council reviewing the report of the Social Affairs, Labour, and Housing Committee regarding the esteemed government's response to the Council's earlier proposal on reorganizing and monitoring domestic worker recruitment offices. The Council made the appropriate decision on the matter. The Council also reviewed the esteemed government's response to its previous proposal concerning the promotion of national values and identity within Qatari society. It was decided to refer the matter to the Education, Culture, Sports, and Media Affairs Committee for further study and feedback. The Council later reviewed the report on the participation of its delegation in the third edition of the South-South Parliamentary Dialogue Forum, held last April in Rabat, Morocco. The forum was titled "Interregional and Continental Dialogues Among Countries of the South: A Key Lever to Address New Challenges to International Cooperation and Achieve Security, Stability, and Shared Development." Additionally, the Council reviewed the report on the participation of HE Issa bin Ahmed Al Nasr in a parliamentary symposium organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union under the theme "Digital Challenges to Peace, Inclusion, and Human Rights: The Role of Social Media Platforms in Spreading Hate Speech and Strategies to Combat It," which was held virtually last March. A number of senior officials from the Center for Empowerment and Care of the Elderly (Ehsan) attended the session.
Qatar Tribune
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Shura Council okays draft law on persons with disabilities
QNA Doha The Shura Council has approved the draft law on persons with disabilities in its amended form and referred it to the esteemed government, after reviewing the report of the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee and discussing its details with their Excellencies the members. The Shura Council, chaired by Speaker HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, took the decision on Monday after holding a debate on the report of the Social Affairs, Labor, and Housing Committee on the request for a general discussion submitted by several members regarding the conditions of persons with disabilities. During the discussion of the report, Al Ghanim emphasized that the achievements made in supporting and empowering persons with disabilities are the fruit of the ongoing efforts of the esteemed government, in accordance with the directives of His Highness the Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and within the framework of Qatar National Vision 2030 and its development strategies. He highlighted the importance of reinforcing these efforts by providing a comprehensive and supportive environment that enables persons with disabilities to fulfill their role as an active partner in the advancement of society, while stressing the need to overcome the existing challenges that continue to hinder it. During his review of the report, Chairman of the Social Affairs, Labor, and Housing Committee HE Abdulrahman bin Yousuf Al Khulaifi referred to the meetings and consultations held by the committee, review of the opinions of specialists and stakeholders, and the recommendations aimed at developing policies related to persons with disabilities and improving the quality of services provided to them. After extensive discussion of the report, the Council decided to submit a proposal to the esteemed government, which included several recommendations aimed at improving the conditions of persons with disabilities. These recommendations include establishing a unified database, reducing working hours, granting special leave to parents in entities not subject to the Human Resources Law and creating positions for sign language interpreters and qualified specialists in service sectors. Also among the recommendations that contribute to integrating persons with disabilities into society are the development of university curricula, the establishment of specialized institutes, rehabilitation centers, and specialized social club along with including them in the health insurance system and increasing their social security pensions. At the outset of the meeting, the legislature hailed HH the Amir's participation in the Second Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on May 27 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The legislative body affirmed that this participation reflects the State of Qatar's commitment to enhancing strategic openness to Asian countries and activating channels of communication and cooperation, which contributes to achieving mutual interests and supports initiatives aimed at consolidating sustainable development and regional stability. The Shura Council also approved a draft law amending some provisions of Law No (7) of 2021 regarding the Shura Council and referred it to the esteemed government, after reviewing and discussing the committee's report thereon. Moreover, the Council also reviewed a proposal to amend some provisions of the Shura Council's internal regulations, issued by Law No (8) of 2024, and decided to refer it to the Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee for further review. The Council then reviewed the report on its participation in the discussion session organized by the Coalition of Women Parliamentarians from Arab Countries to Combat Violence against Women, entitled 'The Arab Declaration Against All Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls,' which was held via videoconferencing last March. The Council also reviewed a report on its delegation's participation in the Arab Forum for Sustainable Development (AFSD) 2025, held in Beirut, last April. The Shura Council's meeting was attended by several officials from ministries and care and rehabilitation centers for persons with disabilities, along with stakeholders and activists in this field.
Qatar Tribune
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Shura weighs proposal for secondary students summer training programme
QNA Doha The Shura Council, at its regular session chaired by Speaker HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim on Monday, deliberated on the report of the Social Affairs, Labour, and Housing Committee on the non-binding proposal submitted by HE Ahmed bin Sultan Al Asiri, pertaining to the launch of a summer training programme for secondary school students. At the beginning of the session, Secretary-General of the Shura Council HE Nayef bin Mohammed Al Mahmoud read out the agenda, and the minutes of the previous session were approved. Scrutinising the report, HE Al Ghanim stressed that Qatar is committed to safeguarding its people, invoking Article No. 22 laid down in the nation's constitution, which states that the nation safeguards the welfare of children from corruption, exploitation, and all forms of physical, mental, and spiritual neglect, and provides an environment conducive to their advancement by virtue of proper upbringing. It is highly important to maintain equilibrium in utilising summer breaks, in terms of rest, entertainment, and making optimal use of students' leisure time as one of the crucial vehicles for capacity-building, investing in youthful energy, and shaping their future orientations, Al Ghanim underlined. He lauded the youthful initiatives spearheaded by a variety of public and private institutions across the nation to groom students during summer breaks. He emphasised the importance of coordinative efforts among those institutions to provide students with training opportunities through a unified platform. Offering his opinion, Chairman of the Social Affairs, Labour, and Housing Committee HE Abdulrahman bin Yousuf Al Khulaifi highlighted the items laid down in the non-binding proposal, which states that as the academic year draws to a close, it is imperative to engage high school students in meaningful and productive activities during the summer break. 'Opportunities should be provided to enhance their practical skills and guide them toward promising career pathways in alignment with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and its prime pillar represented in human development,' Al Khulaifi noted. He stressed that these training programmes should be virtually energised to help students internalise the fundamental skills of their potential careers. He explained that there is an online platform that connects these programmes across a variety of public and private institutions. Zeroing in on the report before the legislature, Shura members noted that capitalising on the summer break to guide students generates numerous benefits. They stressed that these programmes help build their character, as well as their capacities and potential, in addition to imbuing them with essential skills for their careers. Following thorough deliberations on this report, the legislature decided to submit a non-binding proposal to the government comprising an array of perspectives that intend to invest in youthful energies in pursuit of advancing the community and equipping students with substantial knowledge for their future careers through leveraging extensive summer training for general secondary school students. The proposal underscored that it is particularly important for both the public and private sectors to create a comprehensive national plan for programmes that primarily target Qatari students and apprise them of labour market needs based on the nation's future orientations. The proposal envisions leveraging an integrated digital platform to streamline student access to available training opportunities across the public and private sectors, coupled with structured advisory services, orientation sessions, and targeted skills workshops aimed at equipping students with essential talents prior to their engagement in grooming activities. Overall, the non-binding proposal stated that trainees shall be granted appropriate monetary incentives and urged private sector enterprises to launch grooming initiatives for secondary school students as part of their social responsibility. Thereafter, the Council reviewed the statement of the government with respect to the legislature's non-binding proposal on regulating media content creation and publishing on digital platforms. It decided to forward the matter to the Education, Culture, Sport and Information Committee. In previous sessions, the legislature had deliberated on the subject in question and submitted a conclusive non-binding proposal to the esteemed government. It included the legislature's perspectives on the aforementioned matter. The legislature reviewed the report of the Health, Public Services, and Environment Committee on the government's statement regarding the non-binding proposals on the development of the appointment system in government health institutions and took the appropriate decision accordingly. On another note, the legislature reviewed the participation of its delegation in the Third Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, the Meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the Fifteenth Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament, and the 2025 IPU Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations, held in New York, United States, from February 12 to 14, 2025. The legislature discussed the report of the participation of its delegation in the Ninth Meeting of the Gulf-European Parliamentary Committee and the Meeting with the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with the Arabian Peninsula, held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on February 25 and 26, 2025. Those in attendance at the legislature's session were students from the Graduate Studies College of the Police Academy and members of the Student Council of Ali Bin Jassim Bin Mohammed Al-Thani Secondary School for Boys.
Qatar Tribune
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Shura discusses summer training programme proposal for students
QNA Doha The Shura Council, chaired by Speaker HE Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, on Monday deliberated on the report of the Social Affairs, Labor, and Housing Committee on the non-binding proposal submitted by HE Ahmed bin Sultan Al Asiri, pertaining to the launch of a summer training programme for secondary school students. Scrutinizing the report in question, Al Ghanim stressed that the State of Qatar is committed to safeguarding its people, invoking Article No 22 laid down in the nation's constitution, which states that the nation safeguards the welfare of children from corruption, exploitation, and all forms of physical, mental, and spiritual neglect, and provides an environment conducive to their advancement by virtue of proper upbringing. It is highly important to maintain equilibrium in utilizing summer breaks, in terms of rest, entertainment, and making optimal use of students' leisure time as one of the crucial vehicles for capacity-building, investing in youthful energy, and shaping their future orientations, he underlined. Al Ghanim lauded the youthful initiatives spearheaded by a variety of public and private institutions across the nation to groom students during summer breaks. page 4
