At a glance: Qatar

The big picture

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This map does not reflect a position by UNICEF on the legal status of any country or territory or the delimitation of any frontiers.

External political interventions and the rise of the oil industry have permanently changed the traditional way of life in the Arab Gulf States in recent decades. The modernization process, which lasted for centuries in the West, has been compressed into decades, putting great stress on traditional societies. It has also influenced identities like tribal, family and religious loyalties, linguistic and ethnic to be more important than state citizenship. The common bonds of the Gulf peoples are now overshadowed by political differences between the new states. These factors, along with economic disparities, unstable oil prices and politicized religion have all contributed to existing tensions, which have exerted a direct toll on the situation of women and children in the Area.

The importance attained by the Gulf Countries stems principally from their massive energy deposits, holding 53 per cent of the world's known oil reserves and producing over a third of the world's daily output. Saudi Arabia ranks first with a 261 billion-barrel reserve, followed by the United arab Emirates (98 billion) and Kuwait (96.5 billion). In addition, with 14 per cent of the world's reserves, the Gulf is also rich in natural gas, Qatar alone holds the world's third-largest reserves. In view of the uncertain oil market outlook and evolving trends in regional and international economics, Gulf Countries are faced with important challenges.

These are compounded by domestic developments, particularly the growing number of nationals ready to enter the labour market. Complicated by insufficient policy response to less favourable external conditions, risks include low rates of economic growth, rising unemployment and growing financial imbalances and indebtedness. If such conditions were supported by structural reforms, economic adjustment and financial stability, increased employment opportunities and sustained economic growth could be closer at hand.

UNICEF priorities

Gulf Countries have made remarkable progress in advancing the situation of children and women. The economic boom of the seventies and early eighties was used to establish necessary socio–economic development infrastructures, including the distribution and availability of basic services such as education, health facilities, safe drinking water, environmental sanitation facilities and electric utilities throughout the Gulf. In addition to enhancing the overall standard of living, Gulf Countries provide wide networks of free or subsidized social services to their citizens. This has contributed to the excellent social indicators relating to survival, development and protection of children and women.

A UNICEF workshop on early childhood care and development was organized in Dubai in close cooperation with the University of Toronto and the International Institute for Global Education. With the participation of 21 high officials from the Gulf Area, the workshop emphasized a good start to life along with methods of early development, care and safe environment for physically healthy, mentally alert, emotionally secure, socially competent and able to learn children. This occasion was used as an opportunity to envisage what UNICEF programmes might include in this particular field. Following are the main programme highlights the area office has identified.

United Arab Emirates

• Health: Free health treatment for all; ensure the availability of comprehensive Health Centres in rural areas; awareness programmes for children and adults on contagious diseases; establish centres to provide services to children with cancer; provide health services in schools and kindergartens.
• Education: Establish teacher training and management centres for both teachers and technical staff; Develop sharing programmes between schools and parents; Develop English language programmes at various school levels; Develop educational curriculum that does not merely concentrate on academics, but looks at all phases of growth.
• Protection: Prepare guidance programmes to protect children at home, school and on the road; Prepare programmes to protect children from violence, abuse and family separation.

Qatar

• Health: Develop health care centres; promote breastfeeding; develop campaigns for healthy lifestyle and for choosing healthy food.
• Education: Help develop teacher's skills; prepare programmes of psychological guidance in schools; promote parental participation; prepare programmes to overcome learning difficulties.
• Protection: Offer counselling to help avoid divorce and family separation; develop programmes to stop psychological abuse; drug use.

Kuwait

• Youth: Develop projects for young people in the areas of health, education and protection.
• Education: Elaborate a curriculum for pre-kindergarten children (from one month to three-and-a-half years old); Assess the present curriculum for kindergarten (four to six years old); Offer English language education for kindergarten children; Train supervisors working in Kindergartens.
• Health: Establish baby care clinics; prepare programmes to fight malnutrition and obesity in children.
• Protection: There is a lack of information on family violence, moral abuse and negligence; There is no available mechanism to address child abuse and violence; The protection committee must follow-up with the concerned authorities.

Saudi Arabia

• Health: Programmes to address the following: the spread of viruses during the Hajj season; the spread of AIDS and drug use; accidents, obesity, family health programmes are needed to address hepatitis and the growing incidence of cancer.
• Education: Increase the number of small-sized schools, the number of kindergartens, numbers of teachers (which is low in comparison with the high number of students). At national level this ratio is good at one teacher for every 13 students, but when broken down to urban/rural differences the disparity is found to be very high. There are more students in cities and less in rural areas. Accurate statistics on the number of newborn babies is needed for the Ministry of Planning.
• Protection: There are no educational centres for parents; There is no way to address or reference abused children. Servants and maids are given exclusive responsibility for raising children. The number of car accidents is increasing. Even in front of Saudi homes there are no safe places for children, who witness and/or are involved in numerous accidents. There are increasing numbers of children driving their parent's cars and there are increasing numbers of cars being stolen.

The Kingdom of Bahrain

• Health: A Child Assessment Centre is needed. Special Adolescent-Friendly Clinics need to be established. Anti-smoking campaigns need to be carried out.
• Education: There is a shortage of trainers. An applied curriculum needs to be set up. School buildings need to be improved.
• Protection: Legislation, new laws are needed. Services need coordination.