ISO: QAT *************************************************************************** The electronic version of this document has been prepared at the Fourth World Conference on Women by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women Secretariat. *************************************************************************** AS WRITTEN *************************************************************************** Excerpt from Press Release. The written statement was not available in a scannable language at the time of presentation in the conference. *************************************************************************** ABDULLRAHMAN AL-KULAIFI, representative of Qatar: Defending the rights of the family is a basic value in Islam. On the eve of the twenty-first century, women must struggle against pre-conceived ideas and against laws which should have been abolished. The Muslim culture has granted justice to women by giving them the right to work, inherit and participate in all sectors of life at all levels. The women of Qatar have salaries equal to men, without discrimination. Women are also granted maternity leave with full salary. The State of Qatar has granted mandatory and free education to all women, to ensure the progress of society.