Her Highness' Speech at Doha Forum 2025 Closing Session

In the name of God, the Most Merciful. 

Peace be upon you.

When justice is examined, a torrent of questions emerges about the way it is framed as an inherent right, even as reality tells a different story.

Justice, at its core, is a faith, a culture, and a practice that Is deeply rooted in reality. Justice must be perceived and experienced, not simply used as a rhetorical slogan. Those slogans are empty promises and false commitments deliberately designed to remain unfulfilled. 

The international system is marred by an absence of the principles of justice, as scenes of injustice spread across the globe - an injustice that is clearly observable but intentionally ignored and dismissed. 

In an era defined by unprecedented conflicts and the collapse of international governance, the failure to address the question of justice has become inevitable, because no one seems capable of offering effective solutions to the challenges facing human society. Meanwhile, major powers - rather than safeguarding the jurisdictional authority of international law to preserve the balance of global relations or upholding it as a universal instrument of justice -are entrenching their interests and advancing agendas to assert their dominance. This is all happening within a global system that is already facing great upheaval, and a decline in the standards of justice that should govern relations, rights, and opportunities. Yet justice has become a relative concept, influenced by circumstances and interests, instead of a universal, immutable value.

I do not believe the concept of justice needs redefining; the more pressing issue lies in how justice is implemented in practice. Across various parts of the world, we have witnessed a selective application of the right to justice, as well as its outright denial in regions where people cry out to the world to restrain their oppressor and uphold justice, but those cries remain unanswered.

We need no eyewitness to confirm the crimes documented on our television screens, including the brutal killing of civilians of all ages - for example, in Gaza and Sudan. Nevertheless, the voice of justice is scarcely heard amidst the cacophony of our world. That is our reality today. 

Esteemed guests,

It is important to note in this context that the call for justice is a universal human necessity. Justice is essential for the vulnerable to feel protected in the face of the powerful, and equally necessary to uphold the integrity of international relations - ensuring that no state, by virtue of its strength, wrongs another. 

Ladies and gentlemen.

I ask you to consider the profound intellectual and moral dissonance confronting young people, who are taught in schools and universities that justice is the cornerstone of a healthy society, only to witness a reality that starkly contradicts those ideals. It comes as no surprise if the streets of major cities and capitals fill up with young protesters opposing abuses of power, acts they consider as a deep betrayal and a violation of every charter that upholds justice.

Today, humanity must safeguard justice and fairness with an unwavering commitment because of the access to instruments of mass warfare and genocide, at a rate unprecedented in the history of humanity. For nothing curbs the intoxication of power more effectively than justice and the rule of law.

Distinguished guests. 

The realities of today’s situation raise a truly thought-provoking question: Why does technological progress not go hand in hand with progress in the realm of values?

Upon closer examination of the notion of progress, we find that, rather innocuously, progress has become a tool in the hands of great powers - an instrument for crushing identities and cultural particularities. The allure of progress must never blind us to the virtue of justice - for erasing a person’s culture and identity is a form of death no less grave than killing them.

Justice entails respecting cultural sensitivity. In this context, cultural identity grows increasingly more fragile as it struggles to shield itself against the relentless onslaught of progress. What is considered progress in one cultural context may not be seen as such from another cultural perspective. What works here may fail there; what is rejected in one place is revered in another. 

I believe that true progress can only be achieved when it stands alongside justice—otherwise, it ceases to be progress, and degenerates into nihilism.

And since true progress lies in education, justice demands the securing of education to preserve language, traditions, and cultural identity. Together, these comprise humanity’s valuable heritage, and ensure the safety of societies and their national security. Therefore, securing education becomes a prerequisite for achieving social justice; while neglecting education is akin to surrendering to the ignorance and regression that perpetuates a cycle of dependency.

Ladies and gentlemen. 

Let us examine the different facets that make up the concept of justice - for in reality, it does not differ from any other human endeavor we strive for in life:

Strengthening family and social cohesion - that is justice. 

Guaranteeing healthcare and safeguarding child welfare - that is justice.

Protecting education and ensuring its security - that is justice.

Providing decent employment opportunities - that is justice.

Upholding the human right to freedom of expression - that is justice.

These are interconnected pillars that, together, form the foundation of a more just world.

Today’s global challenges demand from us a courageous framework that is aimed at restoring the tilted scales of justice. When justice truly prevails, it reinstates in people their sense of self-confidence. For the marginalized, who endure conflict or humanitarian crises, it not only restores their belief that they are worthy of a dignified life, but also reassures them that they are far from being a burden on this earth. 

Esteemed Guests. 

The value of Doha Forum is in its ability to bring together leaders and decision-makers to reexamine the intractable challenges gripping our world - most of which are man-made. Crafting solutions to these problems may require the boldness to ask difficult questions to restore peace in an ever more ruthless world. However, simply posing these questions will not suffice; answers that leave no room for ambiguity must be provided. 

And here, perhaps, we need to once again raise an age-old question: 

Does the authority of law and justice give rise to power, or does power impose its own version of justice through brute force and tyranny? 

Regrettably, today’s reality is shaped by sweeping narratives that recast power as the very language of truth and justice. This turns today’s struggle into a battle of narratives: to restore meaning to concepts that have been stripped of their significance, so much so that peace no longer means peace, security no longer means security, and justice - the greatest victim of all -no longer means justice.

Dear attendees. 

That is why your efforts are of great importance, as they reflect your commitment to upholding the principles of justice. I hope the outcomes of this conference will pave the way for meaningful impact. 

The aims are noble, the allies few, yet our hope is for humanity to awaken and demand justice that has long been denied. 

Peace be upon you.