Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DOHA986
2007-10-11 12:35:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Doha
Cable title:  

QATAR NOMINATION FOR THE 2008 SECRETARY'S AWARD

Tags:  KWMN KPAO PREL PHUM QA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6839
RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHDO #0986/01 2841235
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111235Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7149
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000986 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN KPAO PREL PHUM QA
SUBJECT: QATAR NOMINATION FOR THE 2008 SECRETARY'S AWARD
FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE

REF: SECSTATE 126072

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000986

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN KPAO PREL PHUM QA
SUBJECT: QATAR NOMINATION FOR THE 2008 SECRETARY'S AWARD
FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE

REF: SECSTATE 126072


1. Embassy Doha nominates Amal Abdullatif Al Mannai to
receive the Secretary of State's Award for International
Women of Courage for 2008. Amal Al-Mannai has been informed
of her nomination and was flattered by the news. Requested
information follows:

Full Legal Name: Amal Abdullatif Al-Mannai
Job Title/Association: General Manager of the Qatar Social
Development Center
Date of Birth: 12 AUG 1962
Country of Birth: Qatar
Citizenship: Qatari
Address: Qatar Social Development Center, Box 3509, Doha,
Qatar
Telephone: 974 4927027
Fax: 974 4801971
Mobile: 974 5050222
Email: info@qf.org.qa
Passport Number: 00610318


2. While outwardly progressive in many respects, Qatar
remains a deeply conservative tribal society in which women
rarely benefit from the rights they theoretically enjoy under
Qatari law. The rights - and protection - of women have
been, until recently, a priority for only a small minority in
Qatari government. Amal Al-Mannai deserves great credit for
changing that perception and for opening Qatari society for
the prospect of full participation by women. Justification
for the award follows:

- Amal Al-Mannai is a pioneer in the field of social work,
specifically in support of women and the family, in Qatar.
She was appointed in 1996 General Manager of the Qatar Social
Development Center (SDC),one of the most successful,
well-known developmental organizations in the country.
During her tenure, Al-Manai has been successful in making
development of the family and the community in Qatar the
primary focus of the center through well-designed programs
that promote community involvement in encouraging family
stability and self sufficiency.

- Al-Mannai has several years of wide-ranging experience with
social projects management in both the government and the
private sector. Under her supervision, a number of
successful and ambitious projects and programs have been
launched, such as the Micro-Star Project, a supportive tool
to encourage women and men, either alone or as a group, to
develop private businesses, and the Business Development
Program, which is designed to search, assess and finalize
business ideas to be transformed into investment
opportunities.

- Al-Mannai played a great role in enhancing the family's
ability for self-reliance by launching industrial projects
within her center to create job and training opportunities
for low-income families. The recipients increased their
financial status through the Social Development Projects,
which are tools to offer business opportunities for active
families and individuals who have the ability to produce
products or services, enabling them to actively achieve
independence and financial self-sufficiency by influencing
work values in society.

- Al-Mannai engaged in extensive discussions with the ILO
Regional Office for Arab States on encouraging Qatari
nationals (women and men) to start their own businesses
rather then relying on employment opportunities in the public
sector. Her discussions resulted in the establishment of a
Small and Medium Enterprise Development Center focused on
Qatari nationals. This center has contributed to the
national goal of providing employment opportunities to
Qataris in the private sector, which leads to effective
economic and social participation of Qatari nationals in the
development of their nation.

- Al-Mannai, through the SDC, in cooperation with the
Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, established the
Charity Dialysis Unit Project. This project aims to help
expatriate kidney failure patients who are not able to afford
the cost of treatment. A specialized dialysis unit was
opened at Hamad Hospital, where individuals donated seven
dialysis machines.

- Al-Mannai participates in various committees and taskforce
groups such as the "Children Rights Agreement", the "Gender
Committee" and the "National Strategic Women Development
Committee".

- Al-Mannai received a BS in Economics in 1985 and a High
Diploma in Public Policy and Management from London

DOHA 00000986 002 OF 002


University.


3. Post appreciates the opportunity to honor Amal Al-Mannai's
contributions to the development of women and the family in
Qatar.
RATNEY