In Qatar this Thursday, the President of the Republic defended the importance of human rights, not only politically and economically, but also individually, freedom and inclusion of all, including migrants, and regardless of sexual orientation and gender.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa spoke in Doha, talking to the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, about education, an initiative organized by the Education For All foundation in partnership with the United Nations, before attending the debut of the Portuguese football team in the Qatar World championship.
In this dialogue session, broadcast on the internet, the head of state claimed that to achieve the United Nations’ 4th Sustainable Development Goal — “access to inclusive, quality and equitable education” — “freedom for all” and “social cohesion”.
Social cohesion implies “including everyone, including the poor” and also “migrants”, it implies “including people with different social, political, economic ideas, even with different orientations — we know that every country has its own way of thinking — but even sexual and gender orientations,” he added.
On freedom, he said: “Of course we only have men’s football teams here. But in Portugal, for example, the majority of higher education students are women, the majority of PhD students are women, we are above the average in Europe, we are to lead and that’s so important.”
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, speaking in English, called for commitment and investment in higher education, in scientific and technological developments, but without forgetting those who do not have access to this education, as this is a human rights issue.
“Human rights are social rights, economic rights, political rights, but also individual rights, and this is so important. The right to access education is essential, it makes a difference. When we talk about quality and inclusive education, we are talking about about the future in a long-term view,” he stated.
Source: DN
