Dr. Ali Bin Samikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, met with a number of participants in the International Conference on National, Regional and International Mechanisms to Combat Impunity and Ensure Accountability under International Law “, organized by the National Human Rights Committee, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights , European Parliament, and Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, during the period from 14 and 15 April. Dr. Ali Al-Marri met with Mr. Ahmed Chaouqui, Inter-ministerial Delegate for Human Rights in the Kingdom of Morocco, Ms. Mona Rishmawi, Chief of the Rule of Law, Equality and Non-Discrimination Branch in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Ms. Nicole Ameline, Vice-Chairperson of CEDAW, Mr. Lazhari Bouzid, vice-chairman of the Advisory Committee at the UN Human Rights Council, and Ms. Siham Abdel Wahab Al-Freih, National Center for Human Rights in Kuwait.

Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al-Marri expressed his deep gratitude to the participants he met for their valuable participation and contributions in the discussions held at the international conference. In turn, participants praised the success of the International Conference, and hoped that work would continue to ensure the implementation of the recommendations.

Doha: Monday 15 April 2019

At the conclusion of the Conference on the “National, regional and international mechanisms to combat impunity and ensure accountability under international law the participants made recommendations to States, Civil Society and National, Regional and International Mechanisms, stressing the need for relevant stakeholders to implement the recommendations made by the conference and to utilize these recommendations in their work and advocacy efforts to combat impunity and ensure accountability under international law.

The conference brought together more than 200 governmental and non-governmental organizations and international experts. The conference aimed at discussing national, regional and international mechanisms to combat impunity for gross violations of human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law, and to ensure accountability. Towards this end, the participants took stock of the relevant international law principles, in particular the Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law, and the Updated Set of Principles for the protection and promotion of human rights through action to combat impunity.

Throughout the conference, the participants made the following recommendations to various stakeholders.

States should:

• Join the Rome Statute system and accede to all human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as its first optional protocol on individual communications.
• Incorporate the Rome Statute crimes into their domestic laws and establish absolute jurisdiction for international crimes, irrespective of whether the suspect is in custody or in the territory of the State.
• Encourage coalitions of like-minded States and civil society organizations to enhance the debate in the General Assembly on accountability.
• Enhance political accountability by advocating for an end to arms sales, in particular in conflict contexts.
• Support institutions contributing to the responsibility to protect in order to enhance accountability at the national level.
• Create joint investigative teams of prosecutors from different countries and enhance international cooperation with regard to evidence sharing, extradition and mutual legal assistance.
• Ensure that war crimes investigations remain free and protected from political pressure.
• Establish a research Centre in the MENA region allowing for exchanges of experiences and lessons learned in promoting accountability, bringing the knowledge available within OHCHR and of international experts to shape practical and technical recommendations.
• Develop a list of national remedies available to victims; and ensure public dissemination, including to other States to promote international cooperation.
• Ensure transparency and access to information and create space for community media to support access to information.
• Organize events at the regional, national and international levels for victims to tell their stories and raise public awareness.
• Empower victims to access and participate in the truth, justice and reconciliation process.
• Provide support to victims to access justice and remedies in a language they understand, including in local languages of the country of origin.
• Promote access to information through restorative justice in setting up agreed upon truth and reconciliation commissions. Learn from traditional justice, which is restorative and collective and adapt to local conditions with participation of all stakeholders.
• Ensure support to victims regardless of their affiliations.
• Ensure that the creation and sustainability of investigative mechanisms are less dependent on member states’ political interests.
• Create archives to preserve information and evidence.
• Eliminate obstacles in civil claims related to human rights violations and international crimes, including with regard to statutes of limitation, State immunity, etc.
• Support victims’ organizations and advocates, and include human rights activists in proceedings.

Civil society should:

• Advocate in the multilateral context for international crimes to be discussed in order for concerted pressure to be exercised on States beyond the confines of Realpolitik.
• Raise awareness amongst States of the need for compensation to victims beyond criminal justice.
• Invest a considerable percentage of transitional justice efforts geared towards funding victims’ organizations and providing these victims with direct assistance.

All national, international and regional mechanisms should:

• Ensure a victim-centered approach to investigating and prosecuting international crimes, and focus on redress and reparations, including through assistance.
• Work towards the establishment of an international observatory that would focus on prevention, accountability and combatting impunity notably through advice, support to intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
• Explore the possibility of establishing a working group to collect good practices and submit an assessment on existing national, regional and international mechanisms to combat impunity and ensure accountability.
• Uphold that the victim’s rights to remedies places emphasis on the agency of victims, including by:
a. giving victims access to information as to their rights and available mechanisms,
b. establishing the needs of victims through consultation,
c. seeking consent of the victims at different stages,
d. ensuring victim participation in accountability mechanisms,
e. assuring the protection and safety of victims, and
f. compensating victims or their families.
• Ensure that women and minority groups participate in public consultations aimed at developing, implementing and assessing reparations programmes.
• Instead of the term “victims”, use alternative terms such as “survivors”, which empower them and give them a voice.
• Ensure that the approach to reparations is multidisciplinary and has a multigenerational dimension that recognizes transgenerational victims.
• Compensation should be effective, easily accessible and proportional.
• Enhance and strengthen the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, in order to create an open forum for victims to express their views.
• Identify victims of core international crimes and the harm they have suffered with a view of offering assistance, moral and material reparation, irrespective of criminal proceedings.

Doha on Monday: 15 April 2019

The National Human Rights Committee of Qatar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development in Somalia on the sidelines of the conference on national, regional and international mechanisms to combat impunity and ensure accountability under international law, organized in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the European Parliament and the GANHRI.

The MoU was signed by HE Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar and HE Ms. Deika Haji, Minister of Women and Human Rights in the Republic of Somalia. The memorandum of understanding is based on collaborative agreement to work together to strengthen future cooperation in the legal and human rights fields between the two parties, while recognizing the importance of human rights cooperation to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two parties, with a view to continue to take further practical steps towards promoting better understanding of each Party’s understanding of other Party’s human rights systems, including ways to strengthen the work of human rights institutions, legislation pertaining to human rights and human rights education in accordance with the laws and the regulations in force in both countries.

The agreement aims at foster a closer relationship between the two parties in the areas of promoting a culture of human rights and protection of human rights.
It also aims to ensure bilateral communication and exchange of information between the Parties, on issues relating to the development of the human rights system and strategies and action plans of each party, taking into account the following:
– Development of future relations between the parties
– Dissemination of the concepts of each party’s human rights protection and promotion system.
– Development of a bilateral framework with a view to learning from each other’s technical and institutional expertise.

As for cooperation areas, Priority is given to activities aimed at protecting human rights related to:
– Institutional development of human rights (governmental and non-governmental levels).
– Development and implementation of human rights plans and strategies.
– Supporting capacity-building and the exchange of experiences in the field of human rights.
– Supporting human rights education programs and activities.
– Cooperation in offering advisory expertise, and conducting research and studies.
– Support and enhance cooperation in combating human trafficking and other priority areas.

Possible forms of cooperation in the field of human rights include the following:
– Exchange of information on legislation on human rights and civil society organizations.
– Exchange of visits between the parties and involve members of civil society organizations and academics specialized in the field of international humanitarian law and human rights.
– Enhance communication and means of cooperation between the relevant bodies and human rights training organizations.
– Joint development of education, training and research, and exchange of information on joint activities between the relevant institutions and authorities.
– Planning and implementation of joint programs and projects in the promotion and protection of human rights.
– Intensifying cooperation through meetings, conferences and seminars.
– Joint holding of national and regional human rights events.
– Referral to either of the parties of individual cases which may require intervention by the Party to whom the cases are referred, as well as giving timely response and regular updates by the intervening Party.

4.2 million views of the conference’s promotional video through social media within 10 days

More than 50 journalists and media organizations shall cover the conference

Doha on Saturday 13 April 2019

Under the patronage of the Prime Minister and Interior Minister, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, The National Human Rights Committee of Qatar, in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the European Parliament and the Global alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, organizes the “International Conference in Doha on National, regional and international mechanisms to combat impunity and ensure accountability under international law” during the period from 14- 15 April 2019, in The Ritz-Carlton, Doha, Qatar.

5 opening remarks in the opening session

According to the agenda of the conference, the opening session of the conference will feature five speeches by H.E. Dr. Ali Ben Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, H.E. Pier Antonio Panzeri, the Chair of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights, H.E. Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, H.E Carlos Negret Mosquera , President of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), and H.E. Catherine Marchi-Uhel, Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the investigation and prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Crimes in the Syrian Arab Republic.

3 sessions on the first day

The opening session will be followed by three sessions, moderated by officials and experts from international and international organizations. The first session of the Conference deals with the issue of Accountability for gross human rights violations and serious violations of international humanitarian law, including Duty to investigate and prosecute and Victims’ right to remedies. The session will be chaired by Mohammad Ali Alnsour, Chief, Middle East and North Africa Section (MENA), OHCHR and Anna Katolo, OHCHR, Geneva, Switzerland as a Rapporteur. Among the speakers in the first session are Brenda J. Hollis, Prosecutor of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, Chairperson of the International Commission of Inquiry on the Syria Arab Republic, Mona Rishmawi, Chief of Rule of Law, Equality and Non-discrimination Branch, OHCHR, UN, Geneva, Saman Zia-Zarifi, Secretary General, International Commission of Jurists, Geneva, and Carmen Cheung, Center for Justice and Accountability.

The second session of the Conference will discuss Protection and promotion of human rights through action to combat impunity, including the Right to know, the Right to justice, and the Right to reparation/guarantees of non-recurrence.
The session will be chaired by Mr. ORE Sylvain, President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Yasmine Abou Mansour (OHCHR) as a rapporteur. Among the speakers in the first session are Marzuki Darusman, Chairperson of the independent Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, Simon Adams, Executive Director of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, Ahmed Chaouqui Benyoub, The Interministerial Delegate for Human Rights, Morocco, Fatsah Ouguergouz, Former President of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, Geneva, and Francois Membrez, International Expert, Geneva.

Second day of the conference

On the second day of the Conference, there are three working groups simultaneously on “Good Practices, Lessons Learned and Proposals”.
The first working group examines the issue of “Access to justice: Basic Principles and Guidelines”, chaired by Nicolo Angelo Figa-Talamanca, Secretary General, No Peace Without Justice, and Michael Wiener (OHCHR) as a Rapporteur. Among the speakers are Kimberly Prost, Judge on the International Criminal Court, The Hague, Netherlands, and Djaouida Siaci, Vice President of the Rohingya Support Group (RSG), New York. The second working group shall discuss the issue of Reparation for harm suffered. The group is chaired by Karen Smith, Special Adviser to the Secretary General on the Responsibility to Protect, and Anna Katulu (OHCHR) as a Rapporteur. Among the speakers are Ben Keith, Barrister, Head of international team, UK, and Haydee J. Dijkstal, International Criminal and Human Rights Lawyer, UK.

The third Working Group discusses Access to relevant information concerning violations and reparation mechanisms, chaired by Mr. Fausto Pocar, President of the Institute of International Humanitarian Law in Italy, and Ms. Yasmin Abu Mansour, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as a Rapporteur. Among the speakers are Michel Veuthey, Vice President of the International Institute of Humanitarian Law and Ambassador of the Order of Malta to monitor and combat trafficking in persons and Amal Nassar, Permanent Representative to ICC, international Federation for Human Rights ( FIDH ), Paris.

Closing session

The Conference will conclude with a session with concluding remarks, chaired by H.E. Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, Vice-President and Secretary-General of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.

20 working papers

More than 20 working papers shall be presented during the two-day conference, by lawyers, international experts, UN officials and representatives of international organizations.
The working papers shall discuss international, regional and national mechanisms to combat impunity for gross violations of human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law. Towards this end, the conference will take stock of the relevant international law principles, in particular the Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law, and the Updated Set of Principles for the protection and promotion of human rights through action to combat impunity. The conference shall bring together more than 250 personalities including presidents of courts, international judges, representatives of the United Nations and the European Parliament, as well as international experts, and governmental and non-governmental organizations, heads and experts of international commissions of inquiry, relevant special rapporteurs, chairpersons of United Nations treaty bodies, experts and judges in international criminal tribunals and the International Criminal Court, as well as experts and lawyers who have brought criminal cases before national courts based on universal jurisdiction. Furthermore, representatives of specialized international agencies and Regional human rights mechanisms, chairpersons of the European Parliament, national human rights institutions, research centers, and other relevant bodies and organizations will be invited.

2.5 million viewers of the conference’s promotional video through social media

Few hours before the conference, the social media sites of the National Human Rights Committee witness strong interaction with the promotional video of the International Conference on “National, Regional and International Mechanisms to Combat Impunity and Ensure Accountability under International Law”, in parallel with several press and media statements in European And international newspapers on the importance of the conference.

Doha: Monday, April 8, 2019

Ms. Maryam Bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Secretary General of the National Human Rights Committee, met a delegation of members to the IPU, in the presence of Dr. Bahia Tahdhib-Li, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the State of Qatar. During the meeting, Ms. Maryam Bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah gave a brief on the National Human Rights Committee, its mission and vision to develop and promote human rights in the State of Qatar, and also expressed her delight to receive the delegation to strengthen bilateral relations and exchange of experience and knowledge in the field of human rights.

The Conference is organized in cooperation with the office of the High commissioner, the European Parliament and the Global Alliance of NHRIs

The outcomes and recommendations of the conference are eagerly awaited, in the presence of more than 250 participants representing the institutions of international law around the world

Among the Speakers are judges, court presidents, chairpersons of international commissions of inquiry and experts

The conference is a dialogue platform for the assessment and development of national, regional and international mechanisms to combat impunity

Doha: 30 March 2019

Under the patronage of the Prime Minister and Interior Minister, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, The National Human Rights Committee of Qatar, in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the European Parliament and the Global alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, organizes the “International Conference in Doha on National, regional and international mechanisms to combat impunity and ensure accountability under international law” during the period from 14 to 15 April 2019. The conference shall be opened by Dr. Ali Ben Smaikh Al Marri, Mr.Pier Antonio Panzeri, the Chair of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights, Ms. Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Mr. Carlos Negret Mosquera , President of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).

The conference is expected to bring together more than 250 personalities including presidents of courts, international judges, representatives of the United Nations and the European Parliament, as well as international experts, and governmental and non-governmental organizations, heads and experts of international commissions of inquiry, relevant special rapporteurs, chairpersons of United Nations treaty bodies, experts and judges in international criminal tribunals and the International Criminal Court, as well as experts and lawyers who have brought criminal cases before national courts based on universal jurisdiction. Furthermore, representatives of specialized international agencies and Regional human rights mechanisms, chairpersons of the European Parliament, national human rights institutions, research centers, and other relevant bodies and organizations will be invited.

Among the speakers, who have confirmed their participation, are parliamentarians, President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Prosecutor of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone, Chairman of the UN fact-finding mission on Myanmar, Chairman of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, judges of the International Criminal Court, and Senior ministers of human rights in some Arab countries, as well as senior officials of the United Nations and the European Parliament, including the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament and others.

More than 20 working papers shall be presented during the two-day conference, by lawyers, international experts, UN officials and representatives of international organizations.
The conference will last for two consecutive days and will include workshops and working groups to develop practical proposals, and to come up with concrete recommendations. More detailed information can be found in the attached concept paper.

Dr. Ali Ben Smaikh Al Marri, said in an earlier press conference that this international conference comes in the context of the partnership between the NHRC, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the European Parliament and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, in light of the ongoing violations and attempt to avoid responsibility and punishment for the crimes committed, particularly in access to national courts and compensation. At the same time, Al Marri pointed out that this conference is an important international event to promote protection and end impunity provided for in regional and international instruments and how these principles can be applied through the exchange of experiences of international, regional and national mechanisms, particularly in promoting these principles and enhancing accountability.

Maryam Al-Attiyah: while we are gathered together here to celebrating the Arab National Human Rights Day, we hope we stand firm to take stock of the humanitarian situation in our Arab region

March 26, 2019

The National Human Rights Committee has honored a number of individuals and cooperating partners in spreading its message to establish and promote a culture of human rights at the national level on the occasion of its observance of the Arab Human Rights Day. The ceremony was attended by Ms. Maryam Bint Abdullah Al Attiyah, Secretary General of the National Human Rights Committee, a number of members of the National Human Rights Committee, and Mr. Sultan Bin Hassan Al-Jamali, Assistant Secretary General of the National Committee for Human Rights.

In her speech, Ms. Maryam Bint Abdullah Al Attiyah welcomed the participation of the National Human Rights Committee in celebrating the Arab Human Rights Day. ” while we are gathered together here to celebrating the Arab National Human Rights Day, we hope we stand firm to take stock of the humanitarian situation in our Arab region. The Arab Charter on Human Rights is one of the principles that guarantee the Arab citizen’s enjoyment of the rights and responsibilities he must fulfill. We hope that we will celebrate next year and enjoy a reality that meets our aspirations to enjoy our rights in all areas of human rights, stressing that the National Human Rights Committee was keen on such occasions to honor the cooperating partners in spreading its message for promoting its efforts in establishing a culture of human rights at the national level. For his part, Mr. Mohammed Saif Al-Kuwari, member of the National Human Rights Committee, said that the committee honored the parties and individuals cooperating with it in spreading its message on the occasion of its celebration of Arab Human Rights Day, adding that these individuals deserve to be honored, To disseminate its mission to promote a culture of human rights in society.

The Charter is an Arab regional mechanism that regulate joint efforts among the countries of the region

The success of the Charter in achieving its noble objectives depends on the seriousness of Arab countries and Arab human rights organizations in dealing with it

Al-Jamali: the cooperation between the Arab Network and the Charter Committee is an honorable example and a model for Arab cooperation

Doha: 20 March 2019

The NHRC in cooperation with the Arab Network for National Institutions organized a seminar entitled “The Arab Charter for Human Rights” at the Mondrian Hotel in the presence of representatives of a number of government authorities and civil society organizations. In her opening speech, Ms. Maryam Bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Secretary General of the NHRC, stressed the importance of the Arab Charter on Human Rights as an Arab regional mechanism that regulates the joint efforts of the countries of the region in the field of protection of human rights. The Charter represents an official Arab consensus in the field of human rights and devotes specificity to the Arab region in light of the existence of a large number of international conventions concerned with the protection and recognition of all human rights and freedoms. The Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Committee pointed out the importance of promoting and protecting all rights for all individuals without discrimination and stressed the need to exert more efforts to lift all violations of human rights in the region.

Al Attiyah pointed out that the success of the Charter in achieving its noble objectives depends on the seriousness of the Arab States and Arab human rights organizations in dealing with it, and the need for changes in laws and practices to be in line with the provisions of the Charter as well as the seriousness and credibility of discussions on state reports on the human rights situation before the Charter Committee. Al-Attiyah called on Arab governments to show willingness to reopen the debate to amend some of the provisions of the Charter, which are clearly contrary to international standards to achieve the desired goals.

Mr. Sultan bin Hassan Al-Jamali, Executive Director of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions, said that defending and protecting human rights and freedoms, and working hard to promote and protect them, is one of the noblest goals of national human rights institutions, stressing the network’s keenness to extend cooperation with all the actors in the Arab region, especially the Arab Human Rights Committee (the Charter Committee). In this context, the Arab Network signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Charter Committee to provide mutual support to NHRIs in all areas of human rights, including the exchange of experiences and best practices, and raising the capacity of national human rights institutions in the Arab world. Al Jamali added that this cooperation came within the context of the implementation of the strategic plan of the network and its operational plan for activating cooperation with regional and international organizations, as well as strengthening the capacities of national institutions to develop their work.

Al-Jamali pointed out that the memorandum of understanding developed cooperation with the Charter, and said: “Before the signing of the memorandum of understanding, we organized the Arab Conference for the Development of the Human Rights System at the League of Arab States” on June 3-4, 2013, in Doha in cooperation with the National Human Rights Committee in the State of Qatar. Among the recommendations of the conference was developing the Arab Charter on Human Rights through the development of additional protocols, including human rights issues such as: violence against women, prevention of torture, economic, social and cultural rights, human rights defenders, protection of journalists and media workers, refugees, forced disappearance, transitional justice, persons with disabilities, especially during wars and conflicts.

Al-Jamali explained that the network’s cooperation with the Charter Committee dealt with several other aspects, such as building and raising capacities, enabling institutions to cooperate with the Charter mechanism, attending its meetings and following up on its recommendations, pointing out that one of the outcomes of this cooperation is that several member institutions of the Arab network submitted parallel reports to the Charter Committee. Al-Jamali extends his thanks to the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar for its cooperation with the network, expressing the hope that this cooperation and support for the Arab Network will continue in the framework of achieving its goal of promoting, developing and protecting human rights in the Arab region.

During the seminar, Mr. Ghaffar Al-Ali, legal adviser at the Arab Network, reviewed the history of the Arab Charter on Human Rights while Col. Saad Salim Al-Dosari, Assistant Director of the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of the Interior, addressed a working paper on the engagement of the department with the mechanisms of the Arab charter. In this context, Mr. Jaber Al-Huwail, Vice-Chairman of the Arab Human Rights Committee (Charter Committee) addressed the mechanisms of selecting the members of the Charter Committee, their functions and the working mechanisms of the Committee. For her part, Ms. Hala Mousa, legal expert of the National Human Rights Committee, presented a working paper on the interaction of the National Human Rights Committee in the State of Qatar with the mechanism of the Arab Charter.

March 19, 2019

The National Human Rights Committee and Qatar University in cooperation and the Ministry of Interior organized a seminar entitled “The Right to Vote and Stand for Elections” on the occasion of the Sixth Session of the Central Municipal Council Elections 2019, with the participation of a number of members and senior officials of the National Human Rights Committee. Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al-Kuwari, member of the National Human Rights Committee, said that participating in the electoral process is a national duty, calling on all the Qatari people to participate and cast their votes to promote democracy among all members of society, leading the country to further democratic progress and political prosperity. Al-Kuwari explained that the nature of any elections leads to the identification of the social context in which the electoral processes are carried out in different dimensions, because this context occupies particular importance in understanding the nature of participation in electoral processes and its development and the results it produces.

Al Kuwari said that the electoral process is a catalyst for the candidate to play a major and important role in serving his constituency and his country by translating the demands of the constituents into realistic projects that directly or indirectly affect the development of the democratic experiment and contribute to the development of society at all levels. Al-Kuwari revealed the preparation of a detailed plan to monitor the elections of the Sixth Central Municipal Council in accordance with the program approved by the Ministry of the Interior, in addition to the development of an awareness plan on the right to participate in the political life and practical measures to implement the said plan in accordance with the national legislations, and National, regional and international human rights, pointing out that the role played by the committee during the election period comes within the provisions of Article (3) of Decree Law No. (17) for the year 2010 organizing the National Human Rights Committee, especially item (5), which provides for “monitoring the human rights situation in the State, And the preparation of reports thereon, and submit them to the Council of Ministers with their views “and item (9), which provides for” dissemination of awareness and education of human rights and freedoms, and the consolidation of its principles, at the levels of thought and practice.”

Al-Kuwari pointed out that the Elections are the gateway to democracy, it supports and regulates the governance of any country, through which the rights of individuals are recognized in society. Elections are also the best way to achieve sustainable development achievements in the country, stressing at the same time that the right to run and to vote is the right of every citizen without discrimination to participate in the public affairs in the state which is guaranteed in international instruments as well as Article 42 of the Constitution.
During the lecture, Al-Kuwari reviewed the provisions of international conventions on the election and nomination of citizens according to the national laws and international agreements including Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as the rights relevant to the various stages of the electoral process, including the need for the polling centers to meet the accessibility; the need to have instructions or signs to the voters about the location of the polling centers; And the need to facilitate the voting process for persons with disabilities and the elderly. Al-Kuwari said: “If there is a disabled person with a motor disability who wanted to exercise his/her right to vote, and the polling place does not have a ramp, then This falls within the competence of the sub-committee on field visits and monitoring of the NHRC which shall consider this situation as a form of violation of the rights of persons with disabilities in accordance with international human rights instruments.” Al-Kuwari said: “It is also necessary to ensure that there is no campaign material inside the polling station and that voters are allowed to vote after presenting their ID cards, and that no pressure is exerted on voters when they mark the ballot paper. Moreover, Electoral committee officials should ensure that the election committees is organized in an effective way and that observers monitor the voting process freely within polling stations, and that the representatives of the candidates did not face any problems in entering the Electoral Commission.”

In his welcome speech, Dr. Omar Bin Mohammed Al Ansari, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Qatar university, said: “Communities are distinguished and flourished with the participation of all their citizens in all aspects of development that societies seek to achieve. They promote the values ​​of participation and the right to exercise all their rights, the most important of which is the right to political life. This year, our participation in this electoral process is a national duty and a consolidation of the principle of democracy, reflecting the cultural advancement of individuals in society. we call on all citizens of Qatar to participate actively in these elections. ”

For his part, Lieutenant Saleh Jassim Al Mohammadi, member of the Legal Committee for Municipal Council elections, stressed the great importance of municipal council elections due to the Council’s role in monitoring the implementation of laws, decisions and regulations related to the powers and competencies of the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, including laws and regulations relating to the organization of buildings and planning of land, roads, commercial, industrial and public outlets and other fields. He added: “In each constituency, there is a committee of “appeals and grievances formed by the Minister of the Interior in each constituency to adjudicate the appeals and grievances related to the registration in the voter lists, also addressed the definition of the candidate and the related criteria and said: “In accordance with the provisions of Decree No. (17) of 1998 concerning the system of electing members of the Central Municipal Council, a candidate is required to be an original Qatari citizen or to acquire citizenship provided that their father is born in Qatar; to be registered in the voters’ lists in the constituency which they wish to represent, and has a permanent residence within its borders; have not previously been convicted of an offense against honor or trust; at least 30years of age; literate and known for their competence and honesty.

Dr. Al-Marri:

I will strive to strengthen the independence and performance of national institutions and protect human rights globally

I will work over the next three years to promote and consolidate a culture of human rights

The National Human Rights Committee won three leadership positions in the GANHRI, which serve as a catalyst for the performance of human rights instutuions in the region

Geneva on 5 March 2019

Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar, said that he will work hard during the next three years as Vice President and Secretary of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions to enhance the independence and performance of national human rights institutions in accordance with the Paris Principles, noting that the confidence obtained by the National Committee in receiving leadership positions in the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions serve as a catalyst for all Asian and Pacific human rights institutions to develop their performance and their conformity with international standards, promote human rights gains and protect human rights in the region.

This came during the General Assembly Meeting of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) on Tuesday, 5 February at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, following electing Dr. Ali Al Marri as the Vice-President, Secretary-General and member of the Executive Bureau of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, according to the results of the elections held on the sidelines of the 23rd annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions. The election of the National Human Rights Committee is considered as a victory following the unanimous confidence obtained of the APF, and the trust of 112 national human rights institutions of the Global Alliance at the General Assembly of the Global Alliance.

The members of the APF voted unanimously and gave their trust to Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri, chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, to serve as vice-president of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, Secretary-General and member of the Executive Bureau. Members of the Forum unanimously voted for Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari, a member of the National Committee for Human Rights in Qatar, to serve as a member of the Advisory Council of Jurists of the APF.

The National Human Rights Committee won the leadership positions in the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, as a culmination of its achievements and contributions to the defense of human rights issues in Qatar and the region and its international efforts to counter the blockade imposed on Qatar. The National Human Rights Committee won four leadership positions in recognition of its efforts and contributions in defending human rights issues nationally, regionally and internationally. The National Human Rights Committee has become a model for human rights institutions in the region and the world.

It is worth mentioning that The National Human Rights Committee of the State of Qatar is the only country in the GCC to be accredited status A by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions following a rigorous accreditation process under the supervision of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Status (A) is granted only to national institutions that fully complies with the Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions. (The Paris Principles).

The National Human Rights Committee has again received the confidence of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), which has previously rejected complaints submitted by the blockading countries, to try to withdraw the status A from the NHRC, while questioning its credibility and integrity. The efforts of the National Human Rights Committee to counter the blockade also earned the appreciation of the international community, led by the United Nations, which in its official report valued the efforts of the National Human Rights Committee and confirmed the credibility of its reports on violations by the blockading countries.