The College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) held a virtual high-level workshop for women leaders, in partnership with the European Union Delegation to the State of Kuwait and the State of Qatar.

The three-day workshop aimed to further develop the essential skills and capabilities of Qatari women interested in engaging in the political sphere. Senior politicians, media experts, campaigners, and legal scholars from the European Union, Qatar, Kuwait, and Tunisia shared their knowledge and experience with 11 Qatari women, including potential candidates to run for the Shura Council elections.  

The high-level workshop brought together women leaders from across Europe and the Middle East including Dr. Hannah Neumann, Member of the European Parliament; H.E. Fawzia Bint Idris Al-Sulaiti, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Indonesia; Dr. Hend Al Muftah, Member of Qatar’s Shura Council; Mrs. Chiraz Chebbi, Member of Parliament, Tunisia, and Dr. Shaikha Binjasim, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Kuwait University and candidate in Kuwait’s 2020 parliamentary elections.

Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Amal Al-Malki, founding dean, CHSS, said: “We are honored to partner with the European Union Delegation to the State of Kuwait and the State of Qatar to  deliver this high-level and fundamental training to Qatari women aspiring to leadership positions and women candidates planning to run for the Shura Council elections. Over the past few weeks, we were happy to receive a large number of enrollment applications. This interest confirms both Qatari women’s aspirations and drive to participate in all fields, as well as the need for similar workshops. At the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, we are committed toward offering further training in the lead-up to the upcoming elections and throughout the year.”

Addressing the participants, H.E. Dr. Cristian Tudor, Ambassador of the European Union to the State of Kuwait and the State of Qatar, said: “The EU is fully committed to women’s empowerment and we believe women must be supported to participate fully and meaningfully in all aspects of life, including the political sphere. It is our hope that through this kind of knowledge and experience sharing, more women will participate in policy and decision-making, which would benefit society as a whole.”
“If at a certain time, women participating in politics was seen as impossible, now the time has made it possible,” said H.E. Fawzia Bint Idris Al-Sulaiti, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Indonesia, in her keynote remarks.

Speaking on day three of the workshop, Dr. Hend Al-Muftah, Member of Qatar’s Shura Council, said: “Women are not only half of the society in terms of population numbers, as a matter of fact, they represent a voice of value and depth in our society. For this reason, women’s effective participation in the upcoming elections is a national duty.”

The practical workshop focused on the core elements of a successful electoral campaign, such as messaging, masterful public speaking, the effective use of social and traditional media, as well as the Qatari Constitution and national legislation on political campaigning. It took place from June 13 to 15, and a certificate of completion was awarded to all participants.

To learn more about the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, its activities and events, visit chss.hbku.edu.qa.

To learn more about the EU Delegation to the State of Kuwait and the State of Qatar, please visit https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/kuwait_en.