The National Human Rights Committee welcomed the promulgation of Law No. (17) of 2020 issued by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, regarding determining the minimum wage for workers and domestic workers, in addition to Decree Law No. (19) of 2020 To amend the provisions of Law No. (21) of 2015 regulating the entry, exit and residence of expatriates.

Ms. Maryam Bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Committee, described these steps as a milestone in the history of the reality of employment in the region where the State of Qatar is the first to adopt a non-discriminatory minimum wage in the region, pointing out that: “These positive decisions by the leadership of the state confirm the pioneering direction towards achieving the 2030 national vision and the sincere will to preserve and protect human dignity in the State of Qatar.”

Al-Attiyah added that “these decisions are a true indication that the State of Qatar is moving steadily towards preserving workers’ rights in line with its international, regional and national commitments, as they come in the context of improving the living conditions of workers in the State of Qatar.”

Al-Attiyah pointed out that the reforms undertaken by the state also come out of respect and promotion of the basic principles of human rights, pointing out that the reforms implemented by the state had a great impact on reducing violations of workers’ rights.

Al-Attiyah pointed out that this is confirmed by the decrease in the rate of complaints received by the National Human Rights Committee, and according to the annual reports it publishes related to the human rights situation in the state.

Al-Attiyah noted the response of state institutions to the recommendations of the National Human Rights Committee, which are contained in its reports, contributed widely to the advancement of human rights in general and labour rights in particular, noting that the National Human Rights Committee has been closely following the reforms that the state is making in the labor law in compliance with the state’s obligations.

The Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Committee said that eliminating the requirements imposed on workers including non-objection from the employer in case of changing jobs, as well as setting a minimum wage, is conducive to the realization of basic human rights in the state.

Al-Attiyah added that the National Human Rights Committee appreciates the state’s efforts; we encourage these reform steps, we renew the call to the government of the State of Qatar to move forward with its legislative developments.

Al-Attiyah noted that the National Human Rights Committee, considering these developments positively, encourages the state to continue with these reforms and affirms its full and complete readiness to cooperate with all concerned authorities within the state, especially the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affair.

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee and Secretary General of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), called on governments and countries of the world to continue providing more capabilities and resources to NHRIs to support and enhance their efforts to develop and protect human rights.

This came during the participation of Dr. Ali, via video conference, at the opening ceremony of the new headquarters of the National Institution for Human Rights in the Republic of Colombia, in the presence of His Excellency Ivan Duque, President of the Republic of Colombia, and His Excellency Dr. Carlos Negrit Mosquera, President of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions; And a number of guests and heads of member national human rights institutions.

In his speech, Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri, Secretary General of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, said: “It is a great honor to participate in this event today as the Secretary-General of the Global Alliance of National Institutions of National Human Rights Institutions. I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to you on the opening of the distinguished new building that will, from now on, become the new interface of the National Committee for Human Rights in Colombia. This achievement represents more than just a building. It represents Colombia’s very long history of defending human rights, and the relentless will to make it achievable despite the various challenges that Colombia has faced throughout its history.”

Dr. Al Marri continued: “This amazing and impressive infrastructure not only sends a strong message to the people of Colombia, but also inspires the entire world to continue strengthening its infrastructure and resources to improve the promotion and protection of human rights. We hope this will be one of the many future developments and achievements that we look forward to seeing. We extend our deepest and sincere congratulations once again. ”

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh stressed his readiness and commitments as the Secretary-General and Vice President of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, to strengthen the independence and performance of NHRIs in accordance with the Paris Principles, and to defense and protection of rights, pointing out that the new strategy of the Global Alliance (2020-2022) will support the establishment of NHRIs where they do not yet exist and contribute to the continuous capacity development of NHRIs to enhance their effectiveness, calling at the same time the governments and countries of the world to strengthen the independence and mandate of national human rights institutions and to remove various obstacles that hinder the implementation of their missions and vision.

July 30, 2020

We examined the living and health conditions of inmates and the extent of adherence to the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (SMRs). The monitoring and field visits team of the National Human Rights Committee started the second phase of the special visits to follow up action on the precautionary measures taken by the state to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, where the team held meetings with the administration of correctional and penal institutions “remand centres and central prisons”, Capital Security, Research and Follow-up Department, and Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Interior.

Dr. Muhammad bin Saif Al-Kuwari, Vice President of the National Human Rights Committee and head of the monitoring and field visits team said: This phase comes as an extension to the first phase that the team undertook, which included many relevant authorities following up the precautionary measures taken by the state to confront the pandemic and limit its spread, noting that the visits of follow-up phase will include all the bodies included in the first phase, pointing out that there are new bodies that will be covered in the second phase related to the right to education and the right to practice religious rites.

Al-Kuwari added: The meeting discussed with officials the measures taken to protect inmates from the Coronavirus epidemic, the available medical equipment and the number of the medical examinations carried out, in addition to the plans prepared by the penal institutions to provide the necessary instructions and adequate awareness of means of protection and prevention from the epidemic, pointing out that the monitoring and field visits team assessed the extent of adherence the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (SMRs) including living conditions, in addition to the psychological wellbeing of detainees, and the activities that are permitted to be practiced including recreational, educational and sports activities.

It is noteworthy that the National Human Rights Committee formed a monitoring team and field visits to follow up action on the precautionary measures taken by the state to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, as the team began its meetings with the concerned authorities and quarantine centers in the first phase last April.

Sayed Ahmed: Reporting and making recommendations and proposals on the human rights situation is one of the most important functions of national institutions

Doha: 20 July 2020

Ms. Maryam Bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Committee, described the process of preparing reports in the field of human rights in its scientific and professional manner, which is characterized by accuracy, credibility and transparency, as “the backbone of the work of national institutions.” This came in the opening speech delivered by Ms. Maryam Al Attiyah during the online training workshop on “Preparing and Writing Reports in the Field of Human Rights” that was organized by the National Human Rights Committee in cooperation with the United Nations Center for Training and Documentation in the Field of Human Rights for Southwest Asia and the Arab Region For the benefit of the committee’s employees and representatives of the relevant ministries in addition to the National Institute of Statistics.

Al-Attiyah said: The process of preparing and writing reports is one of the most important roles of national human rights institutions, through which they undertake multiple efforts and contribute effectively to the process of spreading the culture of human rights at the national level, and added: Especially when these reports come together with their recommendations about the situation of Human rights, and what must be done in accordance with the state’s obligations stipulated in the international covenants it has ratified, and in light of the advice provided by national human rights institutions to state institutions.

The Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Committee noted the urgent necessity to work on training national cadres to perform the task of preparing reports, in order to ensure the high quality of the reports submitted by national institutions, whether internal or external, national or international, and other types of reports, in accordance with their mandate and competencies in the process of promoting and protecting human rights, pointing out that the training workshop comes to introduce and explain the methodology of preparing reports, its mechanisms, objectives, types, and the basic principles of monitoring and information gathering.

For his part, Dr. Abdel Salam Said Ahmed, Director of the United Nations Center for Training and Documentation in the Field of Human Rights for Southwest Asia and the Arab Region said Human rights monitoring is one of the most important tasks of national human rights institutions within the framework of the protection mandate and stressed the need for this mandate to include monitoring of economic, social and cultural rights in addition to civil and political rights, and that national institutions must have the authority to collect the information and evidence they need to perform this function effectively.

In his last opening speech, Dr. Abdel Salam Sid Ahmed affirmed that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights will continue to support and encourage the establishment and strengthening of national institutions and work closely with them to promote and protect human rights. It is noteworthy that the training workshop aimed at introducing the principles of monitoring and gathering information and general principles for writing reports in the field of human rights and the process of adopting human rights standards and indicators in the monitoring and reporting process. The workshop also reviewed the experience of the National Human Rights Committee on reporting at the national and international levels.

The continuation of the unjust blockade of Qatar and the accompanying arbitrary measures for the third year in a row deepen the immense humanitarian suffering being endured by citizens and residents of the State of Qatar and the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as the number of complaints received by the National Human Rights Committee reached 4275 complaints.

The National Human Rights Committee emphasizes that the blockading countries continue to target the peoples and tearing the Gulf social fabric, in flagrant violation of international and regional human rights conventions, despite the international appeals launched by organizations, parliaments and governments across the world.

The lack of responsiveness by the blockading countries to the Gulf mediation and rejection of any international and regional efforts to resolve the crisis is only a pretext to perpetuate violations and inflict harm on their peoples. In this regard, the National Human Rights Committee expresses its deep concern at the failure of all attempts to discourage these countries from their violations or even urge them to find radical solutions to end violations, to fulfil the aspirations of the peoples. The National Committee also strongly deplores the failure of the Gulf system to address the adverse impacts of the humanitarian crisis of the unjust blockade.

The National Human Rights Committee reiterates its position calling for the immediate cessation of grave violations and putting an end to the suffering of the victims and ensure redress for them prior to initiation of any political solutions, in accordance with international human rights agreements.

The National Human Rights Committee also notes that disregarding the issue to lift injustice and compensate the victims will inevitably lead to widening the gap, tearing the Gulf fabric and losing confidence in the Gulf system. Accordingly, the National Human Rights Committee calls upon the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council to assume its responsibilities and expeditiously address the humanitarian implications of the crisis prior to initiation of any political solutions.

The National Human Rights Committee, having noted with satisfaction the movements of the State of Qatar before international organizations and tribunals to provide redress and compensation to victims and expose the violations of the blockading countries to international public opinion, calls upon the State of Qatar to continue moving forward and recalls its obligation to preserve the rights of victims and not to waive claims for reparations under any circumstance or pressure by any party.

In conclusion, the National Human Rights Committee commends the positions of international human rights organizations in documenting violations and condemning the blockading countries, particularly the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Parliament in condemning the blockading countries, and undertakes to the victims and the public opinion to continue its efforts to prosecute those states and coordinate with the concerned organizations and bodies in this regard, regardless of what happens in the future with regard the resolution of the crisis.

10 Sawwal 1441, 2nd June 2020
Doha, Qatar

To Download the Statement  Click Here

Doha, May 31

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) has published a book entitled “3 years since the blockade of Qatar”, in which it referred to unilateral coercive measures taken by the blockading countries against the State of Qatar and its citizens and residents when it severed diplomatic relations with it on June 5, 2017, and accordingly, they gravely violated numerous basic human rights.

The book contains statistics on violations of human rights and freedoms committed by the three Gulf blockading States “Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Bahrain against the State of Qatar, as well as international reports on these violations, international provisions and decisions against the blockade of the State of Qatar, conclusions, legal description, recommendations, and a profile of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in terms of its establishment, functions, and its role in promoting and protecting human rights at all levels, and its obtaining of (A) rating from the Accreditation Subcommittee of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.

The report noted that the total violations of human rights and freedoms monitored and documented by the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) as a result of the blockade of the three Gulf States amounted to 4275 violations, including the right to movement, residence, ownership, education, health, work, litigation, the right to family reunification, freedom of opinion and expression, arbitrary detention and concealment, forced incitement to violence, hatred and the right to practice religious rites, citing several examples of each of these violations.

It noted that among all these violations, which were complaints registered by the NHRC , by Saudi Arabia was 2448 violations, by the United Arab Emirates, 1225 violations and by the Kingdom of Bahrain 602 violations.

The book also touched on a series of periodic reports prepared by the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) to monitor the negative effects of the blockade on human rights in the State of Qatar, including reports of special violations such as the report on deprivation of religious rites, report on the violation of the right to property, report on the violation of the right to food and medicine, and report on the violation of the right to education.

As for the reports of general violations, including the report of the Fourth Committee for Human Rights Violations of the State of Qatar as a result of the blockade, titled “Six months of violations, what next”, another report entitled “A year after the continuation of human rights violations by the blockading countries”, and the report “After six months have passed”..Non-compliance by the United Arab Emirates with the decisions of the International Court of Justice, January 15, 2019, then another general report entitled “One and a half years since the decision of the International Court of Justice … The United Arab Emirates continues to violate human rights” January

2020. The booklet also highlighted the international rulings and decisions against the blockade of the State of Qatar, including what was issued by the International Court of Justice and the International Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in Geneva.

The book , under the title, “Conclusions and Legal Characterization,” noted that the governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Bahrain have violated, through their unilateral arbitrary measures, several principles and agreements of the international human rights law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on Women and Children, Persons with Disabilities, and Forced Disappearance, in addition to the Arab Charter for Human Rights and the GCC Declaration of Human Rights.

The blockading countries also flagrantly violated the “Chicago” agreement by prohibiting the movement of Qatari civil aviation over their territories without any military necessity or reasons related to public security.

The book concluded with recommendations prepared by the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) for all concerned parties to take necessary and possible measures to lift the blockade and the resulting violations, and demanding compensation for all the damage caused to all individuals.

The National for Human Rights Committee (NHRC) submitted these recommendations to the United Nations, the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the blockade countries, the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf States (GCC) and the Qatari government.

The book has been published in three languages: Arabic, English and French. It was posted on the National for Human Rights Committee (NHRC) website.

Click here to read the booklet.

Click here to read the French version.

Doha, May 10, 2020

The field visits and monitoring subcommittee of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) stressed the need for taking further awareness-raising measures and launching campaigns to protect workers and vulnerable groups, noting that the Committee continues to provide the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (ADLSA) with cases and complaints received by the NHRC under the current circumstances so that they can be resolved.

Similarly, in a meeting with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), the field visits and monitoring subcommittee stressed the need to make more efforts to provide the necessary health services and guarantee the right to treatment and medicine for all citizens and residents in Qatar, especially vulnerable groups, such as elderly, people with disabilities or chronic diseases, workers and those with low-income, during the current crisis.

This meeting is as a continuation of the series of meetings and field visits made by the NHRC to correctional institutions, detention centres, police stations, the industrial area, workers’ accommodations and hotel guests under quarantine in order to check the implementation of the precautionary measures approved by authorities to contain the spread of the Coronavirus.

Vice Chairman of the NHRC, Dr Mohammed bin Saif Al-Kuwari confirmed in a press statement that the NHRC’s field visits and monitoring team have met with officials of the Labour Relations Department at ADLSA with the aim to acquire information about the Ministry’s measures and procedures regarding protecting workers’ rights in light of the current health crisis and the extent to which they enjoy their rights stipulated in international laws, conventions and covenants related to human rights.

Dr. Al-Kuwari noted that officials of ADLSA provided an overview of the measures taken by the Ministry regarding workers’ rights and payment of wages during the Coronavirus crisis, as well as the awareness campaign launched by the Ministry, including carrying out nearly 2,400 field visits targeting approximately 160,000 workers.

Dr. Al-Kuwari added that the Ministry has instructed companies to adopt a number of measures, which include exchanging information to increase workers ‘awareness and taking into account personal hygiene, restricting assembly to a minimum and reducing housing density, whether in housing or work sites. Other measures to be taken include appointing Occupational Safety and Health Supervisor as per policies to be implemented by companies, so that they can take advantage of clinics, conduct medical examinations for workers to ensure their safety beside reducing workers bus capacity to 50%. He also reconfirmed that the Ministry will monitor companies’ compliance with these policies.

As for facilities offered to workers and regulations used to facilitate the transfer of their salaries in light of the precautionary measures taken by the State, officials explained that ADLSA coordinated with Qatar Central Bank in this regard due to the precautionary measures and the closure of money exchanging establishments, by facilitating procedures and providing applications for financial transfers, along with current applications run by the state agencies.

In a related matter, in a meeting with MOPH, the field visits and monitoring team of the NHRC reviewed precautionary measures and health services provided by the health institutions to combat the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and monitor the conditions and rights of citizens and residents, especially vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, people with disabilities or chronic diseases, workers and those with low-income, in accordance with international laws, conventions and covenants of human rights.

Doha, May 05

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), in coordination with representatives of its expat offices, launched an awareness campaign targeting corporate workers, including workers in recruiting companies and domestic workers.

The campaign included field visits to workers in the Industrial Area, Umm Salal, Al Wakrah, Al Duhail, and Al Thumama. In the future it will include other areas where expatriate workers are located. The campaign distributes instructions, brochures, and educational publications that focus on the preventive measures that must be followed to prevent the risk of infection with the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The campaign also raises the awareness of workers on the importance of using the hotline launched by the NHRC, to receive and monitor any complaints they have regarding violations that may affect their rights, especially due to the repercussions of the new Coronavirus epidemic (COVID-19).

Head of NHRC Media and Public Relations Department Abdullah Ali Al Mahmoud said that the campaign came to complement the field visits paid by teams from the committee since the start of Ramadan to the Industrial Area and workers quarantines in Umm Salal, Mesaieed, and other areas, in addition to police stations.

The campaign is an implementation of the goals of the National Human Rights Committee in raising the awareness of workers from different nationalities on the dangers of the spread of COVID-19, and on their rights, including to prevention and treatment under these conditions, as well as their right to make use of all the different medical equipment required for protection from the virus.

Al Mahmoud said that the committee’s team met with workers and discussed their residence conditions. The team familiarized the workers with the guidelines on the precautionary measures taken by the State of Qatar, and the rights of everyone in the country in these conditions under the law.

Representatives of Expat community offices of Nepal, India, African expat communities, Sri Lanka, and Bengal all participated in the awareness campaign. This was in reflection of the committee’s commitment to reaching all expat communities and communicating in the different languages they speak.

Doha, April 25, 2020

The field visits and monitoring team of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) has visited workers in some quarantine designated places in the Industrial Area, Umm Salal and Mesaieed, and some designated quarantine hotels, to monitor the implementation of the precautionary measures and the quality of health services provided to contain the Coronavirus (Covid-19).

Regarding the objectives of the field visits to some parts of the Industrial Area, Vice-Chairman of NHRC and chairman of the field visits and monitoring subcommittee, Dr. Mohamed Saif Al-Kuwari said that based on NHRC’s concern for the health and safety of workers and of everyone living in Qatar, various places of major gatherings were visited to inspect the precautionary measures followed, as per the mandate of the Committee, and in implementation of the regulations and laws that regulate its work.

Dr. Al-Kuwari explained that the NHRC has obtained extensive information about the number of workers in some quarantine designated places in the Industrial Area, the area of accommodation, housing conditions, shelter services, and the quality of healthy food and nutritional supplements provided to workers in quarantine in the region, especially to those with chronic diseases, and the elderly. “During the visit to the Industrial Area, the NHRC team inspected the distribution points of the food baskets for workers, the mechanism of work, and distributed some necessary health supplies, including free sanitizers and masks for workers to prevent the spread of the epidemic.”

Dr. Al-Kuwari pointed out that the monitoring committee team was briefed during its meetings with the officials on the implementation of the precautionary measures approved in some parts of the Industrial Area, especially sanitizing and cleaning operations that the zone has been subjected to since the start of the application of the quarantine, and health services provided to residents and workers.

Dr. Al-Kuwari added that the team was also briefed on the procedures used to treat people infected with the virus, preventive medical equipment provided for workers to protect them from the risk of virus transmission, including the procedures used to isolate the infected cases and those who have contact with them, and the plans taken to ensure that the epidemic does not transmit within the Industrial Area.

With regard to the quality of healthcare provided to infected workers in some parts of the Industrial Area, Dr. Mohamed Saif Al-Kuwari said that the field visits and monitoring team reviewed the work of the mobile inspection units designated for examining those living there, and the mechanisms used to conduct examinations, as well as reviewing the process of distributing masks and sanitizers, in addition to visiting several shopping malls, food stores, pharmacies, and exchange offices in the Industrial Area. “Officials at the Industrial Area informed the team that the medical centres distribute the medicine free of charge to those in need, and the visit was an opportunity to be informed about the preparation of a new emergency field clinic that will open soon.”

Meanwhile, the field visits and monitoring team also visited the quarantine centres for workers infected with coronavirus in Umm Salal and Mesaieed. Dr al-Kuwari said that the team spoke to officials and patients in the centres and listened to extensive explanations about a number of patients and the general situation inside quarantine areas and the needs of the isolated persons. The team noted great care in terms of attention, accommodation, hygiene, as well as registering the other additional services of workers such as the internet and cafeteria. Dr. Al-Kuwari said we spoke with workers and officials and we were reassured that there is great care in the services offered. In another visit, NHRC team visited several hotels designated for those infected with the coronavirus (Covid-19), or for those who are spending their quarantine period after returning from their travels outside the country.