The chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri met Mr. Christophe Payot, Ambassador of Belgium to the State. During the meeting, they reviewed aspects of cooperation in issues of mutual concern and means of activating mechanisms of communication between the two sides in fields related to human rights.

The chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri met Linda Dixon, representative of the U.S. Department of Defense. During the meeting, they reviewed aspects of cooperation in issues of mutual concern and means of activating mechanisms of communication between the two sides in fields related to human rights.

The National Human Rights Committee celebrated Qatar national Human Rights Day at the Cultural Village (Katara) with the participation of a large number of the families of the NHRC’s staff and a number of government institutions, civil society organizations, communities, citizens and residents of the State of Qatar.
Ms. Maryam bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Secretary-General of the NHRC stated in her speech on the occasion of the national Human Rights Day that this day marks a turning point to elevate the culture of human rights and stress the values and traditions of respect for human rights in our beloved State, pointing out that the decree law on establishing the National Human Rights Committee reflects a long-term vision for the leadership of governance in our State after which major developments in human rights issues were achieved not only in Qatar but at the regional and international levels. She added that the National Human Rights Committee of the State of Qatar has gained a regional and international weight that grants it a strong voice in all the human affairs, where the institutional and independent work of the NHRC and its substantive initiatives allowed it to be an ideal model in the leading platforms in the field of human rights institutions.
Al-Attiyah stressed that every year witnesses new positive developments with regard to human rights, where the potential legislative amendments expected in the labor law, which was announced by Dr. Khalid Al-Attiyah, Minister of Foreign Affairs in May 2013 is a quantum leap in the way of the legislative development of the State and we hope to see these amendments light soon. She added that one of these developments is opening offices for communities of labor-exporting countries headquartered at the NHRC, this has contributed a lot in finding solutions to several issues and problems and facing challenges they may face them. Thanks to support for the principles of human rights by the state leadership, traditions and human tolerance in the State, the process of institutional advancement of human rights in the State of Qatar arose, which in turn facilitated our mission in disseminating the human rights culture that was respected in the Islamic law before the Western world put it in their constitutions and laws.

Al Attiyah extended congratulations on the occasion of the national day of human rights for the Emir, government, citizens and residents and stated that It is the right of everyone living in this land to live with dignity, this is what our ancestors taught us before we know books and international laws, and what our government is keen to under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar and His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Mr. Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, head of the Public Relations and Media unit, stated that we are keen to celebrate with the public in the cultural village (Katara). This year, we have several official participants from the Ministry of Social Affairs, The Productive families Development Department, the Childhood Cultural Center and Audio Education complex, number of participants reached more than 300 persons and the event included distribution of leaflets that define the activities and objectives of the NHRC and human rights in general.

The Chairman of Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee (QNHRC), Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri described recommendations of the International Conference on the challenges to security and human rights in the Arab region as successful . He noted that the recommendations will be submitted to the HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the sponsor of the conference in addition to the partners including QNHR, council of Arab interior ministers, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions and the Arab League General Secretariat.
He described Doha conference as the first one of its kind in the region which brought together national human rights institutions, civil society organizations and those in charge of law enforcement and security agencies a matter which he said would lead to more coordination , cooperation and joint action between these parties   At conclusion of the conference, Al-Marri thanked participants for their active , positive efforts and discussions that led to the success of the conference.
Meanwhile , the Secretary-General of Arab Interior Ministers Council, Dr. Mohammed bin Ali Kuman stressed that the conference was an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the General Secretariat of Arab Interior Ministers council and participants, saying that human rights’ principles and morals are an integral part of the Islamic religion and therefore no one can accept any rights may be contradicted with the Islamic religion .
Arab League Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Wajih Hanafi stressed the importance of such conferences in order to build confidence, noting that such a conference shows keenness on enhancing cooperation between security institutions and those concerned with human rights.
Furthermore, the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions Chairman Mohamed Fayek said that Doha conference was an advent for dialogue between non-governmental organizations and security institutions, praising role and efforts being exerted by the national institutions for human rights in order to fulfill human rights.
For his part, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the UN High Commission for Human Rights Faraj Fneish announced readiness of the commission to cooperate with all parties and to help the Arab countries to meet their obligations towards protecting and promoting human rights .He called for more cooperation among the Arab region and international organizations concerned with human rights, stressing the importance of preparing a comprehensive Arab strategy on human rights.

Participants emphasized in the final statement that terrorism has a negative long-term impact on the community, where it destabilizes governments, undermines civil society, threatens peace, security, and economic and social development, which seriously affect the enjoyment of human rights. Maintaining security at the individual and collective levels, as a basic human right, is one of the most critical roles entrusted to states. Accordingly, States should take all necessary measures to achieve security in the framework of the rule of law and respect for human rights as stipulated in the relevant international conventions. Protection of human rights does not necessarily weaken national security, and security measures do not necessarily lead to diminution of human rights. The United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy that adopted the human rights and the rule of law as their substantial basis, should provide a frame of reference for Arab countries to take advantage of it in their efforts to combat terrorism. It is not permissible to link terrorism with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.
Conference recommendations stressed that States shall establish oversight and accountability mechanisms to prevent any possibility of exploiting the powers of law enforcement authorities in taking arbitrary measures against individuals or groups. States are urged to respect the Universal Declaration on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, respect and protect journalists, prevent and end torture, call upon States that have prisoners of conscience to be released, including advocates and defenders of human rights, strengthen the independence of the judiciary and the transparency of legal proceedings, respect international standards for fair trial and fight against corruption. States are urged to adopt and implement measures to ensure compliance with the principles of the rule of law, equality before the law without discrimination, and avoid arbitrariness. States are urged to harmonize national agreements and covenants relating to security and human rights with international standards and urge states that have not yet done so, to accede to relevant international conventions, particularly the Convention against Torture and its optional Protocol, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. States are also urged to cooperate with the UN special procedures of the Human Rights Council and with the contractual mechanisms, and encourage States to carry out reforms in the judiciary and the security sector, whenever necessary, encourage ongoing and regular dialogue between security institutions, civil society organizations and national human rights institutions, and consider the establishment of a mechanism, wherever conditions exist for it, for cooperation between them in order that the security measures are compatible with international human rights standards and with what came in the UN Code of conduct for law enforcement officials for the year 1979.
Finally, participants expressed their gratitude to the State of Qatar, the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar, the Arab League, the Council of Arab Interior Ministers and the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions for their efforts to organize the conference and invite them to continue to work with relevant parties to implement the recommendations that were approved.

The Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Dr Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri conferred with a delegation from the National Human Rights Committee of Oman (ONHRC) headed by Saud bin Ali bin Abdullah Al Jabri, a member of the Committee, and attended by ONHRC Secretary General Dr Ubaid bin Said Al Shaqsy.

During the meeting, they discussed aspects of joint cooperation between the two committees and ways to enhance them, cooperation and coordination in the areas of training, the development of cadres working in human rights field, and the exchange of expertise.

Dr. Al Marri also met with Head of Azerbaijani Institute for Democracy and Human Rights Dr Ahmad Shahidov.

The meeting discussed ways to improve human rights system between the two parties and mechanisms of communication and exchange of expertise and experiences in human rights issues.The NHRC Chairman also met with Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission commissioner and discussed aspects of cooperation in issues of mutual interest and mechanisms to follow them up.

These meetings were held on the sidelines of the international conference on the challenges to security and human rights in the Arab region hosted by Doha recently.

Dr. Al Marri: We establish an effective partnership between security institutions and civil society
High Commissioner for Human Rights: We extend thanks to the State of Qatar for its efforts to serve the humanitarian issues in the Arab region
Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States: the conference expresses the sincere desire to protect human rights
Koman: The conference is an opportunity to build bridges of cooperation and coordination between security institutions and human rights organizations
Zayani: Qatar to host this conference emphasizes the importance of promoting the culture of human rights at the local, regional and international levels
Mohammed Fayek: Security and Human Rights Conference in Doha comes at a time the Arab world is exposed to significant risks

HE Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani opened the international conference on challenges to security and human rights in the Arab region, which is organized by Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) along with a number of partners.
Over 400 participants took part in the two-day Conference including some Arab interior and justice ministers, representatives of international and Arab human rights organizations, representatives of a group of security institutions and research centers working in the field of security and human rights, in addition to a wide participation of government entities and civil society groups.
GCC Secretary General Abdullatif Al Zayani attended the opening session along with the Arab League’s assistant secretary general and legal affairs chief Wagih Hanafi, Arab Parliament Speaker Ahmed Mohammed Al Jarwan, and Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions Chairman Mohamed Fayek.
Addressing the opening session, NHRC Chairman Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri thanked HE the prime minister and interior minister for supporting the conference.
He underlined the importance of discussing the impact of security challenges on human rights and how to promote these rights without jeopardizing security of Arab countries while ensuring that national security isn’t used as a pretext for violating human rights.
Al Marri stated that what the Arab world went through during the past few years, of painful developments, and the past events on September 11, 2001 have been associated with terrorism and combating terrorism. The international community’s wide agreement on the need to fight terrorism makes it important to look for the impact of the security challenges on human rights and how we can strengthen these rights without affecting the security of our countries, and at the same time, without considering national security as an excuse to violate human rights.
He added that the achievement of security and the realization of human rights are complementary responsibilities of States, and they shall not contradict each other if they are handled properly. We can admit, without doubt, that maintaining security is the base for the realization of human rights, however it is not an alternative for it, maintaining security shouldn’t be come at the expense of human rights; it is important to realize that violating human rights on the pretext of preserving national security is no longer an acceptable option among the peoples of the region.
He also stated that Sometimes it is difficult to achieve the balance between security and human rights, to the extent that, in some countries Security is considered prior to human rights; but in practice lacking respect for human rights, and the persistence of abuses lead to breaching security. The Charter of the United Nations since its release has connected achieving international peace and security and respecting human rights; while the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has come to recognize and guarantee that the prejudice of human rights inevitably leads to breaching security.
Al Marri stated terrorism is the greatest violation of human rights and people’s lives, and to fight it we should rely on approaches, legislation and legitimate mechanisms which are consistent with human rights standards and safeguard the rights of individuals and communities… It is impossible to accept torture, forced disappearance, arbitrary or collective punishment and other violations as tools to manage security system in any country in the world today. The occupation of the Palestinian territories, the recent barbaric attack on Gaza on the pretext of maintaining security and attempts to Judaize Jerusalem violate not only international law, but also values and principles of humanity. We take this opportunity to call on all nations to lift the injustice on the Palestinian people, lift the siege on the Gaza Strip and resist the Israeli occupation. we will not forget the suffering of the Syrian people and peoples of other regions from genocide, wars, systematic violence and prioritizing security over humanitarian principles. Despite the bitterness of the recent developments and challenges facing the Arab region, they formed an important incentive for further cooperation and coordination of the Arab efforts, including government and non-governmental organizations to build a complete system for the Arab Human Rights. This conference is a testament to the deep-rooted conviction of the importance of respect for human rights and finding ways to achieve this. It is worth mentioning that there are many successful Arab and international experiences in the field of inclusion and integration of human rights concepts in the security and institutional institutions and finding mechanisms for the prevention, accountability, ending impunity for human rights violations. This conference is considered a historic opportunity to open a serious and responsible dialogue between all concerned ministries, security institutions and civil society organizations for the development of the Arab security system in line with human rights standards and respect for human dignity, along with best practices and experiences exchange between stakeholders in this area.

The National Human Rights Committee of Qatar is keen to develop effective partnerships between security institutions and community organization, work on the inclusion of this dialogue within the institutional work and its sustainability, and encourage serious initiatives in this area. We believe that the recommendations of this conference shall be a solid platform and an effective contribution in supporting the achievement of the necessary balance between security requirements and requirements to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights, so as not to overshadow the importance of one or the other, looking forward to benefit from experiences and practices of this great gathering of Security and human rights experts to come out with tangible results reflected positively on the reality of Arab societies.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met a number of heads of delegations participating in the International Conference on the Challenges to Security and Human Rights in the Arab Region at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

HE the Premier met Iraq’s Interior Minister Mohamed Salem al-Ghabban, Somalia’s Minister of Interior and Federal Affairs Abdullahi Godah Barre, Sudanese Justice Minister Mohamed Bishara Dousa and head of the Arab Network of National Institutions for Human Rights Mohamed Fayek. They reviewed bilateral relations.
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Abdullatif Al-Zayani stated that security and stability are the main guarantors for human rights.
Addressing the opening session of the Doha hosted International Conference on Challenges to Security and Human Rights in the Arab Region, Zayani argued that when security deteriorates and stability is shaken, the human rights become more prone to violations.
The GCC chief highlighted the major strides made by GCC states, especially Qatar and Bahrain, to strike a balance between security requirements and human rights commitments. He pointed out that the GCC states always opt for dialogue to resolve dispute and iron out differences.
The Gulf countries are exerting strenuous efforts to enhance pan-GCC security and military cooperation, Zayani said. He noted that the GCC states have recently adopted a series of unified policies, systems, and agreements to achieve highest level of security cooperation. The GCC chief disclosed GCC states have approved the comprehensive security strategy, anti-terror strategy, Riyadh Document of the unified law for anti-information technology crimes and Abu Dhabi Document stipulating the unified law for countering human trafficking. Moreover, the GCC General Secretariat established a special bureau for human rights to follow up and upgrade the situation of human rights in the member states, he said.
Meanwhile, Kuwait’s Ambassador to Qatar Meteb Saleh Al-Mutotah emphasized the significance of the conference, saying that Kuwait has been at the vanguard of the countries in the region caring for human rights, issuing the relevant legislations that guarantee and preserve them. He noted that the Kuwaiti Constitution guarantees and protects these rights. Kuwait is so keen on providing peace and security for citizens and residents as a basic human right, the Ambassador said, noting that the country “has realized the close link between people’s security and their basic rights.” The conference discusses security challenges to human rights and how to enhance these rights, Chairman of Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee, Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri told the session.
He stressed that national security does not justify violations of human rights. Marri referred to the events the Arab World has experienced over the past years, especially after September 11, which created a world consensus on fighting terrorism as a global priority. Realizing security and preserving human rights are integrated responsibilities of a country, and can never be conflicting if considered from a sound point of view, he said. Maintaining national security is a must, but in the meantime is no alternative to human rights, Marri told the session. He added that it has to be realized that violating human rights under the claim of protecting national security is a choice people reject, he added.

The two-day conference was organized by Qatar National Human Rights Committee in cooperation with the General Secretariat of Arab Interior Ministers council, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the General Secretariat of the Arab League and the Arab network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI).
Opened by Qatar Premier and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Thani, the conference brings together 400 participants, including Arab Ministers of Interior and Justice and representatives of major Arab and international and human rights organizations, security institutions, studies, research centers and civil society organizations.
It tackled a plethora of key issues, including the relationship between security and human rights, Arab and international success stories in fields of security and human rights. On the sidelines of the conference, a number of workshops are held to address challenges to security and human rights and aspects of the relationship between security institutions, national human rights institutions and civil society organizations, as well as codes of conduct for security institutions.
President of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions added that in facing these challenges, the region’s countries demand security implementation of the social contract, which is represented by the Constitution, homeland security, security of citizen and the transition to systems that fully respect human rights, warning that communities in which human rights are violated and marginalized are considered encouraging environment for terrorism. Therefore, security can be achieved only by respecting human rights. Security and human rights are two values which are needed for safe and stable communities, they are two complementary values and reinforcing each other.
Bin Raad stressed that the international community and all institutions and organizations have an important role in supporting the existence of a strong structure of human rights, pointing out that the dialogue between the official authorities on human rights and the institutions of the international community are responsible for resolving all the outstanding issues in the field of security and human rights in general.

Under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar (QNHRC) will organize during the period from 5 to 6 November the International Conference on the challenges to security and human rights in the Arab region.
The Conference will be held in cooperation with the General Secretariat of Arab Interior Ministers council, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the General Secretariat of the Arab League and the Arab network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI).
The conference will be attended by more than 400 representatives of major international and Arab organizations working in the field of human rights, representatives of a number of Arab interior and Justice ministries, representatives of human rights departments of Arab foreign affairs ministries, a number of security institutions, studies and research centers on Security and Human Rights Issues, together with a wide participation of government institutions and civil society organizations, along with the attendance of 400 personalities in the opening session.
The conference will cover a variety of important topics, including the relationship between security and human rights, experiences of Arab Interior Ministers council and the High Commissioner for Human rights as well as issues relating to experiences of some international organizations in dealing with security institutions in the field of human rights, and best practices of human rights in the security institutions.
It will include a number of workshops addressing challenges to security and human rights and aspects of the relationship between security institutions, national human rights institutions and civil society organizations, as well as codes of conduct for security institutions in the field of human rights and capacity building and role of the police in the community in promoting the culture of dialogue, alternative solutions and reform of the security, penal and correctional institutions.
The majority of United Nations committees relating to the subject of the conference, and for the first time the majority of the UN Special Rapporteurs shall be attending, including the UN Special Rapporteur on Counter-Terrorism and human rights, Special Rapporteurs for Freedom of Expression, UN Special Rapporteur on transitional justice, President of the Working Group on arbitrary detention, President of The Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges together with first participation of its kind for the chairpersons of the human rights courts at the American, European and African levels.
Maintaining security while realizing human rights are complementary factors if they are considered properly, where security is considered the base for human rights. The relationship between security and human rights constitutes one of the main concerns of the United Nations, the League of Arab States and international and regional organizations, where there is always awareness of the need to establish a realistic balance between security requirements and protection of human rights.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and most of the other instruments are based on adopting security measures in line with human rights and the need to maintain security and national safety. At the Arab level and in the framework of the League of Arab States, the Arab Justice Ministers Council adopted The Arab Convention for the Suppression of Terrorism, which entered into force in 1999 in its regular session in August of this year at the ministerial level where all the measures used in the fight against terrorism are guaranteed to be consistent with the rules of international law, including international human rights law.
Regarding the conference agenda, the conference is divided into four main sessions and shall include several workshops; the first day shall include two sessions together with several workshops in which the first session shall cover the international and regional experiences and the relationship between the work of the security institutions and human rights in general and the relationship between the areas of security and human rights; it shall also include two working papers for the Council of Arab Ministers of Interior and the second shall be efforts on the role of the High Commissioner for human Rights in the field of security and human rights. The second session shall be devoted to panel discussions between UN special rapporteurs including Mr. David Kaye, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Mr. Ariel Dulitzky, Chair-Rapporteur for the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Mr. Vladimir Tochilovsky, Vice-Chair of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
As mentioned, there will be four workshops, the first workshop shall be on Challenges on Security and human rights, the second on Partnership between security institutions, national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and civil society organizations on the promotion and protection of human rights, the third on Codes of conduct of security institutions in the field of human rights and capacity building at the international, regional and local level and the fourth on Reforming security and penal institutions in accordance with international human rights standards. At the end of the first day, there shall be a meeting for the Drafting Committee recommendation.
The second day shall include 2 sessions, the first under the title Experiences of international organizations in dealing with security institutions in which there shall be 5 working papers for Mr. Mark Singleton, Director of the International Center of Counter-Terrorism, Ms. Lia van Broekhoven, Executive Director of Human Security Collective, Mr. Christopher Beecroft, Executive Director Of Global Security and Human Rights Initiative, Mr. Claud Bruderlein Advisor, International Committee of the Red Cross and Mr. Salil Shetty, Secretary General of the Amnesty International; the second session shall be under the title Presentation of the workshops’ main findings; the third and final session is devoted to the final statement and recommendations submission to the Secretary-General of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers. Following this session, there shall be a press conference for Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, the Chairman of NHRC together with the four partners (the League of Arab States, the General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers of the Interior, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions).

The Chairman of Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee, Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri has underlined that people

with disabilities still need to make further efforts to remove the barriers which affect their integration into
society.

Addressing an international workshop organized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in
Geneva under the title ‘Cooperation between the United Nations and regional mechanisms for the promotion and
protection of human rights’, Dr. Al-Marri pointed out that persons with disabilities are the largest minority in
the world, however, many of them live in poverty and suffer from isolation and deprivation of education,
employment and health care, adding that disability movements all over the world played a major role in the
adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

He noted that national human rights institutions have wide functions for the protection and promotion of human
rights, on the basis of the Paris principles which are the legal terms of reference for their establishment and
definition of their functions, foremost of which were the pursuit of the objectives set forth in international
human rights conventions to which the State has become a party, and recommendations for stakeholders, such as
proposals on existing legislations and draft laws and their compatibility with the provisions of international
standards.

Dr. Al-Marri said national human rights institutions have quasi-judicial functions such as the consideration of
any abuses or violations of human rights and work to resolve the complaints they receive through cooperation and
coordination with the competent authorities and proposal of ways to address and prevent their occurrence.

Dr. Al-Marri I reviewed the experience of Qatar’s Human Rights Committee in the promotion and protection of
economic, social and cultural rights of persons with disabilities at local, regional and national levels,
pointing out that the Committee, at the local level, has worked to encourage the government to ratify the UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Committee also made recommendations calling for the
change of the national legislation to match the provisions of the Convention, Dr. Al-Marri said stressing that
the government has responded to those recommendations and invited the Committee to participate in the drafting
of a draft law to change law No. 2 of 2004 pertaining to people with disabilities.

The Chairman of Qatar’s Human Rights Committee explained that the Committee has formulated 7 new provisions
related to economic, social and cultural rights, and decisions on the right to education, health, employment and
housing standards, in addition to the right of access to public and private facilities, and cultural and sports
services. “The Council of Ministers approved in 2012 the draft resolution but it is still under legislative
procedures,” Dr. Al-Marri said.

He added that the issuance of the resolution by the state will be a full legislative step for compliance with
the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Chairman of Qatar National Human Rights Committee (QNHRC), Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri has called on all Arab and international powers to unite their efforts to face Israeli violations against the Palestinian people and not to let the perpetrators to escape with no punishment. He called for highlighting Palestinians’ rights, especially the right to freedom of occupation .

Speaking at the extraordinary meeting of the Arab Network for Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI) General Assembly on Gaza situation, being currently held in Cairo, Al Marri said that the Israeli ongoing grave violations against Palestinians’ human rights abuse all international conventions. He called for setting up an international coalition of national institutions for human rights to highlight the Palestinian people’s rights and support all legal moves to prosecute Israel for all violations.

Al Marri affirmed the importance of establishing a fact-finding committee composed of some Arab national institutions for human rights under the supervision of the ANNHRI in order to visit the Gaza Strip to report violations and submit its report within a month.

Al Marri called for release of all prisoners, especially human rights activists of as well as invite the Palestinian Authority to join the human rights conventions and the international agencies in this regard, urging the national institutions, international organizations, non-governmental organizations in the field of human rights to intensify their visits to the Gaza Strip.

In a solidarity with our people in the Gaza Strip, Al Marri called for holding the next meeting of the ANNHRI General Assembly in the Gaza Strip and to highlight Israeli violations in the occupied Palestinian territories as a top agenda of ANNHRI meetings.

Dr. Ali Al-Marri, the Chairman of the NHRC met in his office at the headquarters of the NHRC, the Indian Ambassador to Qatar, Mr. Sanjiv Arora. The meeting discussed aspects of joint cooperation between the two sides and ways to enhance different areas of human rights.