In a strategic step reflecting Qatar’s commitment to empowering youth and enhancing their global presence, the State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Sports and Youth and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with Qatar’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and UNICEF, launched the “Qatar Youth Delegates to the United Nations” program. This took place during a special event held on the sidelines of the 2025 Economic and Social Council Youth Forum at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

This program aligns with the vision of the Ministry of Sports and Youth aimed at consolidating youth participation in international forums, and at conveying the voice of Qatari youth institutionally and systematically, within the country’s ongoing efforts to build an active and influential leadership generation in international policies.

The launch event witnessed high-level attendance, being opened by Her Excellency Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The keynote speech was delivered by His Excellency Eng. Yasser bin Abdullah Al Jamal, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, alongside Dr. Felipe Paolier, Assistant Secretary-General at the UN Youth Office. The opening session also included statements from Ms. Björg Sandsteir, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination in the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Dr. Kevin Free, CEO of the “Generation Unlimited” initiative, and Ms. Marcy Levy, Global Lead for Adolescent and Youth Development at UNICEF.

In this context, Her Excellency Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani affirmed that the “Qatar Youth Delegates to the United Nations” program represents another pioneering step reflecting Qatar’s firm commitment to continue investing in the future of its youth, valuing their opinions, empowering them, and actively engaging them. It provides an important opportunity to highlight the role of Qatari youth in international forums.

For her part, Her Excellency Sheikha Hanouf bint Abdulrahman Al Thani, Director of the International Organizations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the importance of this program as it reflects Qatar’s commitment to supporting all efforts that promote multilateral work and raise awareness of its importance, especially among future generations.

His Excellency Eng. Yasser bin Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Jamal expressed his happiness to participate in this important international event, affirming that the launch of the Qatari Youth Delegates to the United Nations program marks a significant milestone in Qatar’s commitment to empowering youth and enhancing their participation on the global stage. He explained that this program is the result of a strategic vision consistent with Qatar’s national youth policy, reflecting a deep belief in the importance of preparing a new generation of young leaders capable of making their voices heard and influencing international decisions.

He added that the program aims not only to convey the voice of Qatari youth through international platforms but also to empower them to be at the forefront of decision-makers and pioneers in shaping global policies aligned with the “Charter for the Future” and the “Declaration of Future Generations.”

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth stressed Qatar’s belief in the importance of equipping its youth with skills and knowledge, connecting them with platforms that enable them to play effective leadership roles and contribute to building a more just and sustainable future.