Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), today attended a lecture by United Nations (UN) Secretary-General H.E. Mr. António Guterres on ‘The Importance of Multilateralism in a Time of Unprecedented Challenge’.

Hosted by Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of QF, at Education City, the event was also attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of HBKU. 

H.E. Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, also attended the lecture, which saw high-level participation from representatives of ministries and diplomatic missions in Qatar, as well as the attendance of members of the public.

It 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 topical issues, promoting discourse and the sharing of knowledge.

Addressing a packed audience of diplomats, senior management, faculty, and students, H.E. Mr. Guterres said: “Young people have an absolutely crucial role, more than ever, in the evolution of our society, because technology is evolving in such a way that my granddaughters understand it much better than me. The contribution of young people to the drafting of policies and solutions to problems…is absolutely essential.”

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, H.E. Mr. Guterres said: “I’m a great admirer of Qatar Foundation and its fantastic actions in Qatar and across the world. It has been an enormous pleasure to visit.

“Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser has been an important partner of the United Nations -- 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 Qatar Foundation for their contributions for the well-being of so many people in different parts of the world.”

Dr. Ahmad M. Hasnah, president, HBKU, said: “Hosting the UN Secretary-General at HBKU 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 said that the vision of Qatar, as represented by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, 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.

 H.E. Mr. 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.