HE Dr Nasser bin Hamad Al Hanzab, President of the UNESCO Executive Board and Qatar’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, said the passing of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani represents a loss to the international community.
He said the late Father Amir left a lasting global legacy through his efforts to support development and expand access to education around the world.
Dr Al Hanzab made the remarks at the opening of the high-level ministerial dialogue titled “Global Charter for Science – Sustainable Development: Commitments for 2030 and Beyond”, held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
The event was attended by UNESCO Director-General Dr Khaled El-Enany, along with ministers and senior officials from around the world. El-Enany has served as UNESCO Director-General since November 2025.
At the beginning of his address, Dr Al Hanzab invited participants to observe a minute of silence in memory of HH the Father Amir, in recognition of his humanitarian legacy and contributions to education and development.
He said the late Father Amir firmly believed that education was the foundation of human dignity, sustainable development and lasting peace.
According to Dr Al Hanzab, HH the Father Amir made education, science, culture and international cooperation central instruments for empowering people, expanding opportunities and building more inclusive societies capable of confronting global challenges.
He added that the Father Amir’s support for initiatives aimed at widening access to quality education, advancing scientific progress and investing in human capabilities helped establish a global legacy that continues to inspire the international community.
These contributions, he said, continue to support international efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr Al Hanzab also praised the late Father Amir’s forward-looking leadership and firm belief in intellectual pluralism and the essential role of independent media.
He said this vision was founded on the conviction that open dialogue and the free exchange of ideas are necessary for progress and the establishment of lasting peace.
The UNESCO Executive Board President said the Father Amir’s legacy closely aligns with UNESCO’s mission of building peace in the minds of people through education, science, culture and international cooperation.
He stressed that the late Father Amir’s contributions in these fields would remain present in the memory of the international community.
The ministerial dialogue brought together ministers from different parts of the world to assess progress towards the goals of the international decade and examine innovative scientific solutions to global challenges.
It also sought to strengthen international partnerships and expand the role of science in achieving sustainable development.
Held under the theme “Science in Action: Shaping a Sustainable and Equitable Future for All”, the conference highlighted interdisciplinary research, open-science principles and greater integration between science, policymaking and society.
The discussions also aimed to support efforts to develop a more inclusive and equitable global development agenda beyond 2030.
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