This came during the tenth meeting of Their Excellencies the Ministers of Social Affairs/Development of the GCC member states, held today, Wednesday, September 4, 2024, in the Qatari capital, Doha, chaired by Her Excellency Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, Minister of Social Development and Family of Qatar, who is also the president of the current session. The event was attended by Their Excellencies the Ministers of Social Affairs/Development from the Council member states.

At the beginning of his speech, His Excellency expressed his highest gratitude and deep appreciation to His Highness Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar and President of the current session of the Supreme Council of the GCC and to Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the Council member states for the generous support and patronage provided to the journey of joint GCC work, which aims to elevate the blessed path of the Cooperation Council in all areas of development, including the social field. He prayed to Allah the Almighty to bless the GCC states and peoples with security, peace, and prosperity.

During his speech, His Excellency recalled several achievements related to Gulf women, emphasising their empowerment and pivotal role in economic development programmes, as well as their active participation in joint GCC work within the Council member states. He noted that the economic participation rate of women in the GCC has risen to 43.2%, with women occupying 49% of senior positions in the government sector (leadership positions). In the private sector, women hold 30.9% of senior administrative positions, while their representation in the government sector is 43.4% and 38.2% in the private sector. His Excellency affirmed that these statistics reflect the significant support that the leaders of the GCC provide to enhance the status of Gulf women regionally and globally.

His Excellency also highlighted during his speech the commitment of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC to back joint charitable work and enhance the level of services provided in this field. "The GCC member states contribute approximately $210 billion annually to charitable endeavors around the world, which is a source of pride for all of us as Gulf citizens, as we are accustomed to acts of goodwill and have taken the path of providing help and assistance to those in need," His Excellency stressed.

During the meeting, Their Excellencies the Ministers of Social Affairs/Development of the Council member states discussed several topics of mutual interest, including the social development strategy for the GCC member states, the initiatives outlined in this strategy, the joint charitable and humanitarian work strategy for the GCC (2025-2030), the joint Gulf strategy for women's affairs in the GCC (2025-2030), and the seventh Gulf Theatre Festival for persons with disabilities, which will be hosted this year in December 2024 in the city of Doha. They also reviewed the third report on the implementation and monitoring of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the GCC, as well as the efforts of the General Secretariat in coordination with the Executive Office of the Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs to strengthen relationships with relevant regional and international organisations related to social affairs.