Ooredoo announces sponsorship of Doha International Conference on Disability and Development

Ooredoo announced it has sponsored the Doha International Conference on Disability and Development (DICDD), held from 7-8 December at Qatar National Convention Centre.

The Conference, with an overall theme of ‘Harnessing the Power of Sustainable Development to Advance the Rights of Persons With Disabilities’, was held under the guidance and patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser, founder of the Qatar Foundation for Social Work and its affiliated civil society centres. The event was intended to provide a platform via which those with disabilities can have a voice, and can interact with key stakeholders who will work together to formulate social policy and draw a roadmap for ensuring inclusive equality for all.

Ooredoo hosted a booth at the event, showcasing innovative technologies that will change the lives of those with disabilities. These technologies are a 5G-connected wheelchair equipped with Google Assistant, the SoundShirt – which allows a deaf person to feel music on their skin – and the Bonocle, a system that allows those who depend on voiceover, keyboard navigation and Braille to use the Ooredoo website. The landmark outcome of the conference was the Doha Declaration; a core reference point for international policy development on human rights and sustainable development with reference to disability.

Speaking about the event, Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, Chief Consumer Officer at Ooredoo, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting this incredibly worthwhile event. We wholeheartedly support the United Nations sustainability goals – in this case, reduced inequality and health and wellbeing for all – and, as part of our corporate social responsibility strategy, place great emphasis on supporting and promoting events that benefit our communities and our citizens. We look forward to the event shining a spotlight on disability, and highlighting ways to improve the lives of those with disabilities as part of a sustainable environment.”