Doha: May 13, 2019

Dr. Ali Bin Samikh Al Marri, Chairman of the NHRC, Secretary General of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, received at his office at the Committee’s headquarters Mr. Terno Hadi Tiam, Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Mali. Al-Marri received a written communication from Mr. Malik Coulibaly, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Mali on the importance of joint cooperation in human rights issues and ways to strengthen partnership and activate mechanisms of cooperation between the two sides.

12 May 2019

Members of the NHRC renewed trust in Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, and re-elected him as Chairman of the NHRC at the new session unanimously while Dr. Mohamed Saif Al Kuwari was elected as Deputy Chairman of the NHRC by a majority of the members, while Ms. Maryan bint Abullah Al Attiyah was elected as rapporteur. This came during the first meeting of the fifth session of the committee which was held yesterday at the headquarters of the NHRC . the meeting was chaired by Dr. Yousef Obaidan, in the presence of Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, representing civil society, Dr. Mohammed Saif Al Kuwari representing civil society, Dr. Asma Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Civil Society Representative, Dr. Abdul Aziz Abdul Qader Al-Moghassib, Civil Society Representative, Dr. Ali Ahmed Al-Kubaisi, Civil Society Representative, Ms. Amal Abdul Latif Al-Mannai, Mr. Sultan Mubarak Khamis Al-Abdullah representing civil society, Ms. Mariam Abdullah Al-Attiyah representing civil society, Mr. Abdullah Saqr Al-Mohannadi representing Ministry of the Interior, Mr. Salim Rashid Al-Marikhi representing Ministry of Justice, and Mr. Mohammad Hassan Al-Obaidli representing Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs . Following the election of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, the meeting discussed a number of issues. The meeting divided the members of the committee into three subcommittees: Reporting and Legislation Committee, Monitoring and Visits Committee and Research and Studies Committee. In the same context, members of the National Human Rights Committee, Dr. Youssef Obaidan, drew attention to the contributions and efforts he made during his tenure as Deputy Chairman of the Committee.

The meeting followed the issuance of Emiri Decree No. 19 of 2019 reorganizing the National Human Rights Committee. The term of office of the Committee would be three years, renewable for another period or similar periods.

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) follows with regret and great concern the smear campaigns questioning its credibility including the unfounded reckless allegations made by some officials in the United Arab Emirates. The National Human Rights Committee of Qatar considers these vicious campaigns as a failed attempt added to previous attempts to distort and obstruct its work as an independent national institution accredited ‘A’ status by the Sub-committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).

The campaigns launched against the NHRC are part of the UAE’s systematic campaign launched against human rights advocates and international organizations, including Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch…etc.

Despite the complaint previously lodged by the UAE against the NHRC before the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), they have confirmed their support for the National Human Rights Committee and its work.

The NHRC strongly condemns the recent statements made by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, including accusations of forging or falsification of documents and international reports. The NHRC reserves the right to recourse to legal action to respond to these falsifications, including its right to address the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.

The NHRC is not surprised by the accusations made by an official who considers the course of legal action and diplomatic moves as “pathetic logic”. However, these movements are the civilized path of countries that adhere to the rules of international legitimacy, human rights system, and human values.

The NHRC confirms that these attempts by the UAE will not deter the committee from continuing its work in accordance with the Paris Principles and international human rights standards to expose UAE violations to citizens and residents of the State of Qatar, and other GCC citizens who were harmed by the unjust blockade. The NHRC also affirms that it will spare no effort to redress and compensate the victims.

Ramadan 4, 1440
May 9, 2019
Doha, Qatar

To Download the Statement  Click Here

The NHRC shall raise the subject matter of preventing Qataris from Hajj and Umrah before UNESCO

Saudi authorities continue to put obstacles on performing Hajj and Umrah for the third consecutive season

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) has expressed deep concern over the continuing obstacles imposed by the Saudi Arabia authorities on the rights of citizens and residents of Qatar to perform religious rites for the third season in a row since the beginning of the blockade imposed on Qatar in June 2017. The NHRC revealed that it will soon raise the subject matter of preventing Qatar’s citizens and residents from performing Hajj and Umrah before the committees and constitutional meetings of UNESCO.

This case in a communication to Mr. Coly Seck, President of the Human Rights Council at its thirteenth session, Ms. Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Mr. Ahmed Shahid, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief, and Mr. Jan Figel, Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief Outside the EU.

The NHRC called for taking measures to ensure that Muslims in Qatar — whether citizens or residents – can perform Umrah during Ramadan and Hajj in the next season (1440).

The NHRC stressed the need to expedite the opening of land borders during the Hajj and Umrah season, allow Qatar Airways’ direct flights during Hajj, and to open electronic visa for citizens and residents like other pilgrims and those wishing to perform Umrah, in coordination with the Ministry of Awqaf.

The NHRC stated that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah recently announced launching an electronic service for pilgrims from Qatar. However, it considers this movement an attempt to circumvent the demands of the international community to stop the violations of the right to practice religious rites. The Saudi authorities have previously taken the same step, which we consider an attempt to improve their image, as it fails to remove the obstacles that it poses to pilgrims from Qatar.

The NHRC said that there is a need for the Saudi authorities to coordinate with the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs of Qatar to put in place mechanisms to facilitate the procedures of Hajj and Umrah for citizens and residents of Qatar.

The NHRC denounced the announcement of the opening of the electronic service at a time the Saudi authorities do not permit the financial transfers between the Hajj and Umrah campaigns and the Saudi Hajj and Umrah agents.

In addition, the NHRC mentioned that it has raised previous correspondence concerning obstacles and difficulties placed by the Saudi authorities in the performance of the Hajj and Umrah rituals by citizens and residents of the State of Qatar, in a grave violation of the freedom of belief and freedom to practice religious rites set forth in international and regional human rights conventions, and requested raising the subject matter with the competent authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in order to facilitate Hajj and Umrah for pilgrims from the State of Qatar and to ensure enjoyment of their right to freedom of belief and freedom to practice religious rites. However, the situation remains the same with no improvement almost two years on.

The Committee expressed its concern at the continued obstacles and obstacles and the failure of the Saudi authorities to take any positive steps that would enable Qataris and residents of Qatar to exercise their right to perform their religious rites and demand immediate action against the Saudi authorities so that pilgrims from Qatar can perform Hajj. It is worth mentioning that Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, chairman of the NHRC has met Mr. Ahmed Shahid, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief in London, and presented a detailed report on Saudi violations of the right to perform religious rites including statistics on the number of victims of citizens and residents of Qatar. In February 2019, the President of the National Human Rights Committee met with the Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the European Union and demanded during the meeting that the European Parliament and the governments of the EU countries to shoulder their moral responsibilities and address the Saudi authorities regarding their violations resulting from depriving citizens and residents of Qatar of their right to practice Religious services.

In April 2018, six United Nations special rapporteurs addressed the countries of the blockade on their violations resulting from the blockade imposed on the State of Qatar, including the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, and stressed the importance of removing obstacles imposed on pilgrims from Qatar.

The National Human Rights Committee received at its headquarters a high level US congressional delegation. The delegation was met by the Assistant Secretary General, Mr. Sultan bin Hassan Al-Jamali. Al-Jamali gave a detailed brief on the committee and its role in the promotion and protection of human rights and its working mechanisms in raising awareness and spreading the culture of human rights at the national level.

The meeting dealt with the efforts of the National Human Rights Committee and its continuous efforts to promote and protect the rights of workers and the efforts of the State in developing relevant legislation such as the law on the protection of wages as well as the abolition of Exit and sponsorship system and the law of entry and exit of expatriates. The meeting also dealt with the Committee’s efforts and methods in receiving complaints.

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.