Georgetown and QatarDebate Host Debate on Weapons of Mass Destruction

Master debaters from around the country gathered at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) recently to deliberate the importance of preventing the use of weapons of mass destruction. The event, which was organized by QatarDebate in partnership with the National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons in the Qatari Ministry of Defense, aimed to raise awareness about the regulation of nuclear weapons among students and the wider public.

Following the conclusion of the Qatar University Debate League tournament, the event brought together the country’s top performing university and college debaters to discuss the importance of limiting the use of nuclear weapons.

QatarDebate is the country’s national debating organization, which aims to shape the global citizens of today and the intellectual leaders of tomorrow through the delivery of diverse debate learning programs featuring Arabic and English in Qatar and the region.

“We see this as a wonderful opportunity to showcase the talents and skills of debaters taking on a topic of national interest and relevance, for the viewing pleasure of the student and general population at Qatar Foundation and beyond,” said Hanad Sahardeed, English program coordinator at QatarDebate. “This event would not have been conceived or have the prominence without the National Committee for the Prohibition of Weapons. Thanks to their vision and mandate, and their willingness to collaborate with educational institutions and students, they have shown time and time again to be champions behind the concept of a world free of weapons of mass destruction.”

The event is the latest in a series of events which aim to foster discussion of the topic among university students. Late last year, GU-Q hosted an awareness workshop for seven local universities, which focused on the various weapons conventions that exist internationally. The director-general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons also delivered a public lecture at the University’s Education City campus in the Fall.