QatarDebate, Founded by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, in collaboration with Concordia, organized a high-level dialogue session titled “Women at the Forefront: Building Trust and Shaping International Relations through Dialogue.” The session took place at the Invest Qatar Pavilion as part of the second day of Qatar’s participation in the World Economic Forum (Davos 2026).

The session emphasized the importance of dialogue as a strategic tool for rebuilding trust in international relations, particularly in light of escalating geopolitical challenges and declining levels of trust among international actors. It also highlighted the growing role of women in leading dialogue and contributing to the development of more inclusive and sustainable policies at both the regional and international levels.

Participants stressed that empowering women in decision-making positions contributes to developing more flexible and effective diplomatic models capable of addressing the complexities of the international landscape. They also emphasized the importance of engaging youth alongside female leaders to ensure the sustainability of international policies and enhance their long-term impact.

The session featured Dr. Hind Al-Muftah, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva; Cherie Blair, Founder and President of Omnia Strategic Consulting and founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women’s Empowerment; and Noor Al-Thani, Youth Advocate at QatarDebate. The session was moderated by Sheila Manyam, CEO and COO of the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations.

Dr. Hind Al-Muftah stated that building trust in international relations begins with inclusive and responsible dialogue, emphasizing that women are essential partners in shaping this dialogue and decision-making, thus contributing to enhanced international cooperation and stability.

Cherry Blair affirmed that women’s participation in policymaking is not merely about representation, but also about improving the quality of decisions and promoting the sustainability of solutions, stressing that dialogue is the true path to achieving this.

Noor Al-Thani added that empowering young women with the tools of dialogue gives the next generation a real ability to influence international relations and build bridges of trust between societies.

The session emphasized that promoting women’s leadership based on constructive dialogue is a pivotal element in bridging the gap between policies and reality, and in supporting international cooperation in addressing shared challenges.

This session was organized as part of QatarDebate’s efforts to establish a culture of dialogue as a strategic tool in modern diplomacy, and to enhance the participation of women and youth in international platforms and global policymaking.