Ms. Maryam bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Secretary-general of the NHRC, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the competition launched under the name of the martyr Ali Hassan Al-Jaber announced the winners in its four-season in the three categories, namely: press photos, press releases and short documentary films..
Al-Attiyah revealed the names of the three winners who were nominated from among 157 participants; The ceremony to honor the winners will be on Sunday at Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl, Doha. For the press release category, journalist Nasser Al-Sahli from Palestine who participated with a release under the title “immigration to Italy”, for the category of documentary film, the Syrian director Khaled al Dughim for his film “A prisoner … outside the bars”, and the third winner for the category of the press photo, Mr. Omar Bo Hafs from Yemen, who participated with an image on child labor.

Al-Attiyah stated that “thanks to the large advertising this year, the number of participants increased three times compared to the previous year and noted that the NHRC seeks to develop the competition to be international in the coming seasons. The National Human Rights Committee, the organizer of the competition, has limited the award in the first year to one work only so that the candidate should have provided significant and distinctive contributions through his/her work in the detection of crimes or serious violations committed against a people, and should have contributed to the prevention of such crimes and violations and revealed them to the public opinion. It is worth mentioning that the Palestinian photographer Mohammed Othman won the award in the 1st season, he is a victim to Israeli violence aimed at preventing him from reporting events in Gaza through his camera. In the 2nd year, the award has been divided into three categories, in the category of the press photo, the winner was Khalil Abu Hamra from Egypt, in the category of the press release, the winner was Eidi Al Menifi from Yemen and in the documentary film category, the winner was Media Town Company. In the 3rd season, for the press release category, the Egyptian journalist Mohamed Saeed, for the category of documentary film, Hafsa Aubl from Yemen and the third winner for the category of the press photo was the Syrian journalist Mohamed Ghassan Al Jirwidi.

Al-Attiyah extended tnaks and appreciation to the Board of Trustees including Mr. Sultan bin Hassan Al Jamali, deputy chairman; members include Mr. Ali Nasser Al Qubaisi, Director of Qatar Radio and Mr. Khalid Hassan Al Rumaihi, representative of the manager of Al Rayan channel, Mr. Mubarak Nasser Al Awami representative of Qatar TV, Mr. Saad Safar Al Kuwari, representative of the director of Gulf radio, Mr. Saleh Hamad Al Shawi, Director of Doha Centre for Media Freedom, and Mr. Yasser Qeshi, representative of the Director of freedoms and human rights department at Al-Jazeera; saying that this constellation of members remains committed to its membership during the previous three seasons and has been interested in extending to the technical committee its proposals and opinions relating to terms and competition categories. Al-Attiyah added that we are proud of our Board of Trustees and their commitment until this year’s fourth season, members represent pivotal institutions in the Qatari media movement and their experiences reinforced the choice of the best participating works in previous seasons in a way that is characterized by professionalism and credibility in support of a common message to freedom of opinion and expression.
Al-Attiyah explained that the ceremony shall include several items, including a speech by the chairman of the NHRC, Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, a speech  by Dr Mustafa Sawaq, acting general manager of Al Jazeera Network, a documentary film on the history of the award, and finally honoring members of the NHRC.

In the context of the role of the NHRC in the deployment of human rights and development of awareness of students of schools and colleges, and at the invitation of Prof. Abdullah Rashid Al Nuaimi, director of the Religious Institute, Counselor Ali Muharram, legal expert at the NHRC gave a lecture at the Institute under the title “Human rights and the right to education”; The lecture dealt with human rights definition, characteristics of human rights, protection mechanisms at the national and international levels, Human Rights in Islam describing that Islam sets rules designed to protect individual rights and freedoms, Islam is concerned with respect, tolerance, justice, and equality; the lecture also dealt with human rights in the State of Qatar.

The lecture also reviewed the efforts of the State of Qatar, both locally and internationally in the promotion and protection of human rights and conventions to which the State has become a party in the field of human rights, national legislation in the field of human rights, the Constitution and laws enacted by the state in this regard as well as the competent bodies, national institutions and civil society organizations and their effective role in the protection and promotion Human Rights. The lecture also dealt with the right to education in particular in terms of the importance of education and how it is considered a basic human right that enables realization of the rest of rights.

The lecture dealt with the international conventions on the right to education and the right to education in Islam and the inclusion of this right within Qatar National Vision 2030, the lecture also reviewed the national legislation of the articles of the Constitution and various laws relating to the promotion and protection of this right as well as the executive steps taken by the State in this regard.

Dr. Al-Marri met in his office at the headquarters of the NHRC, the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Qatar, Mr. Didi Saif Al-Hadi. The meeting discussed ways of joint cooperation in various fields relating to human rights.

The NHRC organized at the Student Center at Hamad bin Khalifa University “Calligraphy Exhibition on Human Rights in Islam” In collaboration with the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. The exhibition was opened by HE Ms. Maryam bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Secretary-General of the NHRC in the presence of Ms. Buthaina al-Nuaimi, associate vice-president of education at QF.

Ms. Maryam Abdullah Al-Attiyah in a press statement, stated that the exhibition came to affirm Islam’s respect for the principle of human rights fourteen centuries ago and prove promoting principles human dignity in our culture and religious teachings. Al-Attiyah noted that the exhibition comes two days after the celebration of the Arab Day for Human Rights and said “this exhibition emphasize the image of tolerance, the major value set by Islam for the life of the human being; the Almighty said (…We have neglected nothing in the Book), which proves that Islam put legislation on how to live a decent life”, Pointing out that the highlight of this humanitarian culture in Islam shall constitute a real added value to the concept of Islam, change the negative perceptions linked to Islam, create a wider space for dialogue, and entrench the meanings of peace, freedom and justice that Islam enjoys.

Dr. Al-Marri, the chairman of the NHRC met in his office at the headquarters of the Committee, Saudi ambassador to Qatar Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Aifan. The meeting discussed ways of joint cooperation in various fields relating to human rights.

Dr. Ali Al-Marri, Chairman of the NHRC called for the need to strengthen the partnership between the NHRC and the UN High Commission for Human Rights. This came during a meeting of Al Marri and Prince Zeid bin Ra’ad, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in Geneva.
During the meeting, Al-Marri  discussed ways to strengthen the partnership and activate mechanisms between the NHRC and the HCHR through fruitful consultation and organizing events in all fields of mutual interest. The two sides discussed a proposal to organize an international conference on the role of the High Commission for Human Rights in the Arab region … between reality and hope” by the NHRC in cooperation with the HCHR. Al Marri pointed out that the conference comes at a stage where human rights issues face serious challenges, adding that such a conference would enhance the role of the HCHR in the Arab region. Dr. Al Marri affirmed the continuous support for the efforts of the HCHR in the consolidation of the region, pointing out that Prince Zeid Ra’ad has welcomed the idea of the conference and stressed his support for the organization and provision all the facilities to make it a success. In addition, it will depend on the recommendations in support of reforms announced by the Commissioner during the opening of the latest session of the Human Rights Council.
During the meeting, Dr. Al Marri provided a comprehensive brief on the NHRC and its local, regional and international roles. Among the most prominent issues discussed by the two sides is the activation of the recommendations of the International Conference on challenges to human rights and security in the Arab region, which was organized by the NHRC in November 2014 in Doha. The meeting also discussed ways of the High Commission to support the recommendations of the conference where the High Commissioner for Human Rights was one of the key partners in the organization and in the follow-up enforcement of its recommendations.

Al Marri stated that the NHRC communicated with the competent partners regarding recommendations of the conference including the General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, and The Arab Human Rights Committee that was created pursuant to the Arab Charter, pointing out that the Interior Ministers Council confirmed through correspondence that it shall review the recommendations of the Conference at its mid-March session.

Dr. Al Marri at the conclusion of the meeting, extended an invitation to Prince Zeid Ra’ad to visit the NHRC during his upcoming visit to the Gulf.

The National Human Rights Committee formed electoral commissions to raise awareness during the next municipal council elections of 2015 in which The Higher Committee is headed by Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari, member of the National Human Rights Committee, and the membership include Judge Fawaz Al-Gaatal, Dr. Asmaa Al-Attiyah and Mr. Jaber bin Saleh Al Hwail, Mr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Kaabi, Mr. Nasser Al Marzouk Sultan, and Ms. Asmaa Ali Al-Hassan.The aim of the electoral commissions is to raise the awareness of voters on the electoral process through seminars and workshops at universities and various municipalities and constituencies.

Dr. Al-Kuwari stressed that the importance of these committees in educating voters of the importance and value of the electoral process as a patriotic duty, therefore all the people of Qatar members should participate in this process, for the deepening of democratic behavior, including leading the State of Qatar to further progress Democratic and political prosperity. Al-Kuwari added that the committee shall spread the awareness of the stages of the electoral process including starting-up, campaigning, voting, counting of votes and declaration of results. He pointed out that electoral commissions have several media of awareness, including lectures at universities such as the University of Qatar, and the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community, in addition to gatherings in sports clubs and malls, cultural and civil society organizations and institutions for persons with disabilities. Al-Kuwari said we will also distribute text messages and pamphlets to all the previously mentioned bodies; and through media channels including Qatar TV, Al-Rayyan and Qatar Radio; This election play a great important role in the creation of political maturity, intellectual awareness mutually between citizens and their representative candidates.

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee met at the four Seasons Hotel HE Mr. Ignacio Escobar, Spanish Ambassador to the Kingdom of the State of Qatar. The meeting discussed ways to cooperate on issues of common concern and mechanisms for the exchanging expertise and experience in the field of human rights.

The National Human Rights Committee received a visit from Omar bin Abdul Aziz Independent School for Boys. As a part of its efforts to deploy and establish human rights culture among school students.

Mr. Jaber Al Hwail, Director of the Legal Affairs Department gave the students a comprehensive lecture on the establishment of the NHRC, its mandate, objectives and local, regional and international activities, stressing that the National Human Rights Committee since its establishment plays a major role with full transparency and independence which helped attaining Status (A) by the Sub-committee of accreditation of the international coordination Committee of national human rights institutions, which in turn qualified the NHRC to chair the accreditation committee recently.
At the local level, Al Hwail explained the nature of the complaints received by the NHRC, he said: according to the decree establishing the NHRC, the NHRC is entitled to promote rights of individuals falling under the jurisdiction of the State of Qatar whether they are nationals, citizens, expatriates or transit travelers, explaining that there are many cases provided by petitioners which are related to the work of the NHRC; In this case, the NHRC provides legal advice and refers the cases to the competent authorities relevant to each case.

Al Hwail added that the NHRC in performing its role of awareness at the local level, holds workshops and seminars for institutions and communities, organizes training courses and media campaigns for workers to educate them their rights and responsibilities stipulated by the law, and distributes pamphlets and brochures often printed in more than one language, focusing on the languages which the workers are familiar to.

At the end of the lecture Al Hwail extended thanks to Omar bin Abdul Aziz School for their interest in the field of human rights and assured the willingness of the NHRC to visit the school to provide lectures to students on the topics they are interested in.