The NHRC celebrates International Human Rights Day at Hamad International Airport

Maryam Al-Attiyah:

– We must bet on young people to promote human rights in societies

– Human rights are a culture that must be rooted in society before being embodied in legislation and laws

– There is an urgent need to establish Arab mechanisms for strengthening the role of youth

– Surveys are required to provide an integrated database to spread awareness of the importance of youth participation in the promotion of human rights

– The participation of youth in all aspects of public life is an inherent right enshrined in international conventions and endorsed by regional and national conventions

– There is an urgent need to put more emphasis on the promotion of youth participation, renouncing guardianship over them and diminishing their capabilities

– The need for young people to enhance their capabilities to support their active participation must be taken into consideration

– The Arabic calligraphy on ‘Human Rights in Islamic Culture’ is a window to introduce the place of human rights in our true religion

Doha, December 10, 2019

Dr. Mohammed Bin Saif Al Kuwari, deputy chairman of the NHRC, opened on Tuesday on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, which falls on December 10 each year a new version of the exhibition of Arabic Calligraphy on ‘Human Rights in Islamic Culture’ at Hamad International Airport; in the presence of Ms. Maryam bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Secretary General of the National Human Rights Committee, Mr. Sultan Al Jamali, assistant secretary- general of the NHRC, a number of representatives from Hamad International Airport and a number of Ambassadors to the State, along with cadres in the National Human Rights Committee, prominent national and international figures, and a large audience of travelers through Hamad International Airport.

The celebration of the human rights day this year comes under the generic call “Standing Up for Human rights” which is in an initiative by the United Nations to highlight the crucial role of youth in the collective and peaceful movements as a source of inspiration for a better future, and empower youth and youth organizations to act as a catalyst for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and to create a better world by promoting human rights, peace and equality. The UN’s call to action this year was to celebrate the potential of young people as constructive agents of change, communicate their voices, engage a wide range of global audiences in the promotion and protection of rights, and encourage, galvanize, and showcase how youth all over the world stand up for rights and against racism, hate speech, bullying, discrimination, and climate change, to name a few.

On the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, the National Human Rights Committee organized a “new version of the exhibition of Arabic calligraphy in Islam” at Hamad International Airport, which will last for 20 days, allowing thousands of visitors to Qatar and passengers crossing through Hamad International Airport to see dozens of paintings that reflect the place of human rights in the Islamic religion.
The audience visiting the pavilions of Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition in Islam was briefed on the exhibition which include creative paintings of Arabic calligraphy including Quran verses and sayings of prophet Muhammed that have a direct relationship with the international conventions on human rights with their translation into the languages of the world, especially English, French and Spanish in the framework of keenness to introduce the principles of the religion of Islam through art, and support the efforts of dialogue between religions, civilizations and cultures.

In a statement, Ms. Mariam bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Secretary General of the National Human Rights Committee, said that “the celebration of the International Day is an important occasion to recognize the achievements made by the State of Qatar in the field of protection and promotion of human rights, and to emphasize the keenness of the National Human Rights Committee to continue to urge the State of Qatar to continue the deep reforms it is undertaking to promote and protect human rights. ”
Regarding the importance of the call of action set by the United Nations to celebrate this year’s Human Rights Day, Al Attiyah said: the generic call to action “Stand Up for Human rights” carries a very important message, calling on all countries of the world to pay due attention to the youth, and bet on them to promote a culture of human rights in all societies, before being embodied in legislation and laws.

Al Attiyah pointed out that the National Human Rights Committee attaches great importance to the youth and their role in defending human rights and international legislation. “The participation of young people in all aspects of public life is an inherent right enshrined in international conventions and endorsed by regional and national conventions. all economic and social groups should be fairly represented where capacities of young people should be promoted to support their active participation. The National Human Rights Committee has noted in several occasions that there is an urgent need to establish Arab mechanisms to promote the role of youth where special surveys can be conducted, documenting the experiences of States, providing an integrated database that can be used to formulate their policies and enhance their efforts in spreading awareness aimed at encouraging their participation,” said Al-Attiyah

The exhibition on “Arabic Calligraphy in Islam” is a window to introduce the place of human rights in our true Islamic religion

As for the importance of organizing a new version of the Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition in Islam, in conjunction with the celebration of the International Day for Human Rights, the Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Committee said: “The National Human Rights Committee is always keen on educating and raising awareness of the place our Islamic religion has attached to human rights and the need to respect it “.
Al-Attiyah added, “The the Arabic calligraphy exhibition has turned into a cross-border platform to introduce human rights in Islamic culture, over the past years, and a window to raise awareness of Islam’s role in spreading the culture of peace and tolerance, and the dialogue between religions and civilizations that Qatar has repeatedly advocated in international forums, to combat the culture of incitement and violence that contributed to the spread of extremist ideas, as well as hate speech and attempts to attach terrorism to the Islamic religion. The exhibition also provides a true picture to Western societies of the place Islam has attached to human rights.
Al-Attiyah noted that the new version of the Arabic Calligraphy Exhibition in Islam is considered a new landmark in a long path for this exhibition, which has been previously organized in many world capitals, and attracted a large audience in several cities and capitals, including New York (at the United Nations headquarters), Geneva, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Greece, Kuwait and Tunisia, as well as Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, Katara Cultural Village, Fire Station Artist in Residence, and other areas.

The exhibition of human rights in the culture of Islam in the eyes of the ambassadors:

In press statements on the sidelines of the opening of the exhibition “Human Rights in Islamic Culture”, His Excellency Ambassador Omar Al-Barzanji, Iraq’s ambassador to the State of Qatar, stated: “As you know, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was ratified in December 10, 1948. I highly appreciate the organization of this exhibition in this international occasion in the State of Qatar.”
He added: “I gave lectures on human rights to more than 400 diplomats at the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but it have never experienced that awareness can be raised through artistic paintings. I also thank the artist so much for his creativity, he was my student, and today I saw his creativity in artistic paintings.”

In turn, His Excellency Dr. Mustafa Boutoura, the Algerian Ambassador to the State of Qatar stated: “Choosing the idea of organizing a human rights exhibition in Islamic culture is a wonderful innovation. I suggest that this exhibition be organized in various International capitals, because it is important to talk about human rights from the perspective of Islam, the Holy Qur’an and the noble Prophet’s Sunnah, through wonderful artistic paintings. we desperately need to make the place of human rights in our true religion clear to the world”.

For his part, His Excellency Nizar Al-Heraki, the Syrian ambassador to the State of Qatar, said: “On the International Day for Human Rights, which expresses the aspirations of peoples to realize their rights and stop the violations taking place in the world, foremost of which is my country, Syria, in which the most basic human rights are violated in modern history. This exhibition expresses the human heritage found in the Islamic religion, which is the first human rights bill in the history of mankind. the existing paintings express the importance that Islam attaches to human rights, through the Quranic verses contained in these artistic paintings.
He added: “We highly appreciate the National Human Rights Committee’s invitation to attend the opening of this exhibition. The NHRC is always keen on human rights, and always keen to participate and contribute to organizing human rights related activities not only in Qatar, but also In the whole world.”

For his part, His Excellency Mr. Seichi Otsuka, Ambassador of Japan to the State of Qatar, said: “As you know, we attach great importance to human rights in Japan, and this exhibition is very important. It is wonderful that these paintings are displayed at Hamad Airport, which allows thousands of travelers coming to Qatar, or passing through Doha to visit.”

His Excellency Mr. Omelio Cabeiro Rodriguez, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to the State of Qatar, stated: “It is a wonderful initiative by the National Human Rights Committee to celebrate International Human Rights Day. This creative exhibition has a sophisticated artistic touch, drawing on Arab and Islamic art. It is extremely important to organize An exhibition addressing the place of human rights in the Islamic religion, in light of the exploitation of human rights issue for political purposes.

Doha will host the first international conference of its kind in the region during the period from 16 to 17 February

The International Conference is organized by the National Human Rights Committee in cooperation with OHCHR, EP, GANHRI and IFG

Dr. Al Marri: The conference is an opportunity to promote human rights and combat incitement to hatred on social media platforms

The rapid expansion of digital communication infrastructure and advances in digital technology have caused profound societal change

we seek to develop ways to address the challenges and threats faced by social media activists

Doha: 4 December 2019

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, announced the completion of the arrangements for organizing the Doha International Conference on “Social Media: Challenges and Ways to Promote Freedoms and Protect Activists”, which will be held during the period from 16 to 17 February 2020 and organized by the NHRC In cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the European Parliament (EP), the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). Al Marri noted that The conference will bring together more than 300 governmental and non-governmental organizations, human rights defenders, media workers, social media influencers, tech community representatives, relevant special rapporteurs, chairpersons of United Nations treaty bodies, judges, lawyers and victim representatives, as well as international and regional human rights mechanisms, national human rights institutions, research centers and other relevant bodies and organizations.

Dr. Al Marri noted that The aim of the international conference in Doha is to discuss the opportunities that social media have created for promoting human rights, and to explore recurrent forms of interference in the use of social media. In that context, the discussions will identify good practices and examples of social media use contributing to the exercise of human rights; explore the impact of restrictions to online speech established by national laws and policies on journalists, human rights defenders, political activists and social media influencers; as well as discuss the implementation of hate speech provisions in practice and the use of social media platforms to incite and spread hate speech, including against religious minorities.

Dr. Al Marri pointed out that Social media platforms have changed social and political communication in the world. Opportunities for exercising fundamental rights and freedoms of expression, assembly, association and participation in public life have been expanded in unparalleled ways. The rapid expansion of digital communication infrastructure and advances in digital technology have caused profound societal change, posing both challenges and opportunities for human rights and civic space.

The Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee pointed out that Protection of human rights today and in future will increasingly depend on our ability to articulate how to apply human rights principles to social media and make good use of those platforms. They have become an indispensable tool for the realization of a range of human rights and for boosting economic and social development. New technologies and interconnectedness have helped civil society networks to grow, including across borders.

Dr. Al Marri said Over the years, Over the years, governments and other groups struggling to assert their dominance in public debate have attempted to interfere with the social media in many different ways. As most of the social media platforms are private, technology companies also play a central role responding to multiple requests by authorities and the evolving legal and policy frameworks regulating expression online. Social media companies often establish parameters for moderating content and can be instrumental or detrimental in the response to potential online attacks aimed at chilling expression.

The conference will also explore how social media may be either an important tool for enhancing civic space or for spreading hatred online, which can lead to violence offline. Many social media platforms have therefore included in their terms and conditions specific prohibitions on ‘hate speech’. Some platforms recently updated their rules against hateful conduct to include language that dehumanizes others on the basis of religion. As highlighted by the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, “war starts in the minds and is cultivated by a reasoning fueled by often hidden advocacy of hatred. Positive speech is also the healing tool of reconciliation and peace-building in the hearts and minds”

Doha: 26 November 2019

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, met at his office today with The Swedish ambassador to Qatar, Anders Bengtcén.

Doha: 25 November 2019

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, met at his office with Dr. Narad Nas Pradawaj, Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The meeting discussed ways of cooperation in issues of mutual interest and the exchange of experiences and expertise in the field of human rights.

The Vice-Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari, met with Ms. E. Tendayi Achiume, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
The meeting dealt with means of cooperation on issues of common interest and activating mechanisms for exchanging experiences and expertise, especially best practices to eliminate all forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance. During the meeting, an introductory presentation was delivered about NHRC, its objectives, legal nature, mechanisms of work and methods of receiving complaints and ways to resolve them as well as the role of human rights education in promoting tolerance and eliminating racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance.

In the same context, officials reviewed the NHRC’s role in urging the State to accede to international conventions and covenants on human rights, as well as making recommendations on national legislation related to the protection and promotion of human rights culture. The Committee pointed out that the State of Qatar exerts great efforts to combat contemporary forms of racism through its commitments to implement the Durban Declaration and Program of Action in the context of spreading human rights awareness, and establishing a culture of tolerance and peace.
The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance is an independent human rights expert appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council, and has been mandated to focus on Incidents of contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination against Africans and people of African descent, Arabs, Asians and people of Asian descent, migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers, persons belonging to minorities and indigenous peoples, as well as other victims included in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA).

Bogota, November 23

HE Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, who is also Deputy Chairman of the Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions, Secretary General of the alliance has affirmed his commitment to continue exerting every effort to make the Global Alliance stronger and more effective in its relationship with national human rights institutions to achieve the overarching goal of protecting human rights throughout the world.

His Excellency noted that the Global Alliance had come a long way in the past ten years and had been recognized internationally, and many achievements had been made, which had enabled it to become the main interface of national human rights institutions at the global level, and speak with one voice on behalf of its members.

This came during the participation of HE Dr. Al Marri in the annual meeting of the Office of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions in Colombia on November ,20, 21 and 22 for the first time since his election as Secretary-General and Deputy Chairman of the Global Alliance.

The National Human Rights in the State of Qatar (NHRC) has won the confidence of 120 national human rights institutions across the world to assume leadership positions in the global coalition, where HE Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri unanimously elected to the positions of Deputy Chairman and Secretary General of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, and member of the Executive Office of the Alliance National Human Rights Institutions.

Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al-Kuwari, Deputy Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) was selected to serve as a member of the Board of Elders of the Asia-Pacific Forum in accordance with the election results held on the sidelines of the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, hosted by Hong Kong, China on September 18 and 19, 2018.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Office of the Global Alliance of NHRIs in Colombian city of Medellin, HE Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri praised the hosting of this historic event, expressing appreciation to the commitment of the members of the Global Alliance of NHRIs for their continued commitment and will to make the organization more participatory, more representative and more powerful than ever.

He also appreciated the support of UNDP partners, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and their long-term partnership with the Global Alliance for the Protection of Human Rights worldwide, along with the appreciation of the efforts of United Nations Headquarters in Geneva to support the necessary cooperation and synergy between the Office of the President and the Office of the Secretary-General in order to achieve common goals.

Dr. Al Marri said: “As the Chairman of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions has emphasized, human rights are not mere words, but are obligations to take responsibility for taking effective and concrete action. It has continuously grown to become more visible and recognized globally, and many achievements have been made thus far, and the Global Alliance has been able to become the main interface of NHRIs globally, speaking with one voice on behalf of its members.”

HE Dr. Al Marri reviewed some of the benefits and achievements of the Global Alliance, starting with the signing in May 2019 of the agreement with the European Union in relation to the second phase of the project of national human rights institutions. He noted that last June, witnessed the most prominent and very fruitful event through the 9th annual meeting of Cooperation between the three parties, namely, the United Nations Development Program and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, with the four regional networks of national human rights institutions to help intensify cooperation on many topics in order to continue to implement the common protocols for cooperation in cases of national human rights institutions that are under threat.

Moreover, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, through its four regional networks and national human rights institutions, is now considered a more active and key player in dialogues on global issues such as migration as recognized in the Global Migration Charter and its role has also emerged recently during the Cairo conference and the subsequent Cairo Declaration adopted two weeks ago, HE Dr. Al Marri added .

His Excellency pointed out that a great deal of work had been done successfully in recent months by the members of the Alliance and through its offices and under the leadership of its adviser Mrs. Luna Lindhout, reflecting the expectations, mission and vision of the Alliance in addition to its values with respect to the coming years in the plan for the new strategy of the Global Alliance, noting that numerous constructive and valuable discussions will be held in the coming days to strengthen this plan.

His Excellency stressed that in order to strengthen our role in collecting and representing different voices from the lowest levels to the global levels and implementing the global vision at the local level, a larger network of national human rights institutions had been established that complies with the principles set out in the Paris Convention. The breakthrough in recent months shows not only how the Global Alliance, in partnership with external partners, had become a source of inspiration, but also how much internal coordination can be achieved of efforts is tremendous .

He concluded by noting that the meeting of the Global Alliance Office constituted the decisive steps towards building a global alliance of national institutions for the promotion of human rights commensurate with the future, expressing thanks to all for their valuable and effective discussions through these collaborative processes.

“We fully believe that our mutual support is the key to global success, and we will continue to make efforts to make the Global Alliance of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights a stronger and more effective alliance with national human rights institutions to achieve the ultimate goal, which is the protection of human rights throughout the world, HE Dr. Al Marri said.”

Last Monday, on the eve of its annual meeting in Colombia, the Office of the Global Alliance for Human Rights held a conference on migration, during which it had discussed the Global Alliance’s vision and future strategy to address the problem of migration.

The conference discussed two main items, the first related to the study of the “Marrakech World Charter”, which was adopted at the Marrakech Conference held in December 2018, and ratified by about 164 countries around the world, the conference also addressed the safe, orderly and regular migration and expresses “a collective commitment to improve cooperation in international migration”.

The agreement, published by the United Nations following its ratification in Marrakech, included 23 goals under which it seeks to better manage migration at the local, regional and international levels.

The Global Alliance for Human Rights also discussed among other issues, the outcome of the meeting of the Working Group on Migration of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions, held in Cairo on 5 and 6 November 2019, which discussed the implementation of the Marrakesh Global Charter on Migration on the ground, and the common vision of national human rights institutions on the Charter, and the opportunities and challenges that migration raises.

After three days of discussions, the Global Alliance meeting presented the updated version of the approved Strategic Plan and presented the final conclusions and remarks by HE Chair of the Global Alliance Carlos Alfonso Negrete Mosquera.

November 20, 2019

The NHRC concluded at its headquarters the educational lectures targeting 73 new legal researchers at the Ministry of Justice in the framework of the joint cooperation between the Committee and the Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Ministry, during the period from 17 November to 20 November 2019. The schedule was based on four lectures presented by the experts of the National Human Rights Committee to four different groups of legal researchers. The first lecture dealt with human rights: origin, development, sources and standards. The second lecture reviewed Contractual and non-contractual mechanisms of protecting international human rights. The third lecture dealt with a definition of IHL, its mechanisms, sources and challenges, and another definition of customary IHL. The fourth lecture dealt with the mechanisms of national protection of human rights.

In the same context, the experts of the NHRC provided a comprehensive introduction about the National Human Rights Committee, its mission, legal nature, main objectives, and terms of reference. The experts of the Committee also provided a detailed explanation of the national mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights and their division into governmental mechanisms such as the judiciary, parliament and diplomatic protection abroad for citizens, non-governmental mechanisms such as civil society and other institutions and mechanisms of national human rights institutions that have a special legal nature. The mechanism of Parliament and a course in the protection of human rights were explained in both legislative and supervisory aspects. The lecture dealt with the term and definition of human rights and the factors behind the emergence of the concept of human rights and the reasons for universal interest, characteristics and divisions, as well as explaining the fundamental freedoms and the concept of the International Bill of Human Rights and the main human rights treaties.

November 13, 2019

Dr. Mohamed bin Saif Al-Kuwari met the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid at the Federal Foreign Office Barbel Kofler and her accompanying delegation. During the meeting, a presentation was held on the NHRC’s role in protecting and promoting human rights, especially with regard to the rights of children and women. The meeting was attended by Assistant Secretary-General of the NHRC, Mr. Sultan bin Hassan Al-Jamali and a number of directors of departments and legal experts of the Committee.

The meeting discussed the role of the committee in spreading the culture of human rights in Qatar and the NHRC’s five-year strategy that includes awareness lectures and programmes for workers and employers, in addition to establishing expat committees in the NHRC to facilitate the handling of complaints, including the 24/7 hotline.

The meeting aslo addressed the role of the reception and registration department in the Legal Affairs Department, which provides free legal advice, in addition to receiving complaints and petitions. As part of its awareness-raising and educational mission, the officials said that the Committee is distributing leaflets and brochures in vital institutions in the country, including labour booklet, which addresses rights and duties of workers for all groups (available in 10 languages).

– Al Marri: We expect a strong condemnation of the UAE’s violations and its demand for compensation for victims of racial discrimination

– Three decades since the fall of the “Berlin Wall” and three years since the imposition of the “blockade of Qatar”

– The UAE declares 2019 as a year of tolerance as it cause dispersal of the Gulf peoples and punishes civilians!

– The two complaints filed by Qatar reflect the crimes of racial discrimination committed by the UAE against the Qatari people

– Inviting European Parliament deputies and human rights officials to visit Qatar to assess the repercussions of the blockade

– Renewal of the partnership agreement between the National Human Rights Committee and the European Parliament

– The hearing in the European Parliament is the first after the election of its new members

– Qatar World Cup provided a great opportunity to develop human rights in Qatar and the region

– Newman: “National Human Rights Committee” is an example to other national institutions in their approach to dialogue and cooperation with the European Parliament

– MARTINI: ” National Human Rights Committee ” is respected by the Qatari government

Brussels: Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri has revealed that a new report will be released at the beginning of next year to expose the continued violations by the UAE of the International Court of Justice’s order for the second consecutive year since the beginning of the blockade.

Dr. Al Marri said that we expect a strong condemnation of the UAE and a demand for compensation for victims of racial discrimination, pointing out that the complaints filed by Qatar will show the crimes of racial discrimination committed by the UAE against the people of Qatar. This came during a hearing at the European Parliament headquarters in the Belgian capital Brussels which is the first of its kind to be held in the European Parliament after the election of its new members, especially in the Subcommittee on Human Rights amid the presence of prominent media reporters and media accredited to the European Parliament.

At the outset of his speech, Al Marri extended thanks to the Chairperson of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights Maria Arena, for her keenness and support for the NHRC work, and for renewing the agreement between the NHRC and the European Parliament. Al Marri also briefed MPs on the human rights situation and the most important developments and challenges in the State of Qatar.

In this context, Dr. Al Marri presented an overview on the main challenges facing human rights in Qatar, particularly with regard to the development witnessed in laws and legislations related to the rights of workers, after the abolition of the sponsorship (Kafala system), in a precedent of its kind in the GCC region, and the progress achieved by the State of Qatar at the level of mechanisms, in particular the establishment of a committee to settle labor disputes and the establishment of the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund, in addition to the strong partnership with the International Labor Organization, which culminated in the opening of the first office in the Gulf, as well as the strong partnership with the International Trade Union Confederation.

Dr. Al Marri also drew attention to the continuous visits of governmental and non-governmental organizations to Qatar, referring in this context to the visit of a delegation from the International Trade Union Confederation and the visit of a delegation of The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, at the invitation of the State of Qatar.

During the hearing, Dr. Al Marri addressed the repercussions of the blockade crisis and the continued violations, and the importance of continuing the judicial and legal procedures of the international arbitration bodies, international courts and the United Nations contractual mechanisms, to stop violations of the blockading states, and redress the victims.

Dr. Al Marri added that on the day we celebrate the anniversary of the demolition of the Berlin Wall, another wall was built by four countries in 2017, to impose a blockade on the people of Qatar and the Gulf peoples, where the blockade of Qatar continues for more than 3 years with its serious humanitarian repercussions on the Gulf peoples, and the suffering of children and women as a result of the separation of families.

Dr. Al Marri welcomed the decision of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in Geneva on the admissibility of the two complaints in terms of jurisdiction submitted by the State of Qatar, and added that the complaints will demonstrate to the world the crimes of racial discrimination committed by the UAE against the Qatari people, and we believe that there will be a strong condemnation of the UAE and a demand to compensate victims of racial discrimination.

Dr Al Marri called on the European Parliament to assume its responsibilities and take prompt decisions condemning the violations of the blockade countries against citizens and residents of the State of Qatar, and determine their international responsibilities, and that the European Parliament triumph over the principles for which it was founded. Al Marri also called upon the European Parliament to urge EU governments to put pressure on the blockade countries to stop human rights violations, stressing that the NHRC shall continue its efforts and moves with international mechanisms to stop violations and redress the victims.

In response to deputies’ inquiries about concerns raised about the condition of workers in Qatar, in parallel with its preparations for the World Cup 2022, and the role of the NHRC in the protection of workers employed in the facilities of the World Cup, Dr. al Marri said that the organization of the World Cup in Qatar provided Qatar with a great opportunity to develop the human rights situation not only in Qatar, but in the whole region, and as for the role of the NHRC, we do not only pay attention to the rights of workers in World Cup facilities, but we also attach great importance to the protection of the human rights in general and the commitment of the Government of the State of Qatar to implement its commitments in this regard.

At the end of the session, the Chairperson of the Committee of the Arabian Peninsula in the European Parliament Hannah Neuwmann, praised the work of the NHRC in the State of Qatar which provides an example for other national human rights institutions in their approach and keenness to dialogue, and their continued cooperation and distinguished presence in the European Parliament.

At the end of the hearing, Dr. Al Marri concluded his speech by inviting the European Parliament’s deputies and human rights officials to visit the NHRC in Doha, in order to enhance cooperation and exchange of experiences, and investigate the impact of the blockade imposed on Qatar, and to hear the testimony of the people affected by violations resulting from the blockade for the third consecutive year.

In a press statement on the sidelines of the hearing, Dr. Al Marri said that the European Parliament members are committed to defending all victims of human rights violations wherever they are in the world, including victims of violations caused by the blockade of Qatar. Al Marri concluded his visit with meeting Director General of Gulf and Middle East and North Africa programme at the European Commission’s External Action Authority Gabriel Vinals and Deputy Head of Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and Regional Policies, European External Action Service (EEAS), Marco Morettini.

Doha on November 11

A seminar organized by the National Human Rights Committee in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior highlighted the efforts of the State of Qatar in protecting human rights, especially the national mechanisms in this regard, and its pioneering experience in light of the national legal system and international mechanisms and conventions. The seminar titled “National Human Rights Protection Mechanisms… Experiences and Data” was held on the occasion of the Qatari Human Rights Day, which falls on November 11 of each year, and in the context of the technical framework of cooperation between the National Human Rights Committee and the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Interior.

In his opening remarks, Assistant Secretary-General of the National Human Rights Committee, Mr. Sultan Bin Hassan Al-Jamali said that the protection of human rights is a national responsibility, as stated in the UN Charter, which reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person.

Al Jamali stressed that the State of Qatar, since its accession to international policies and conventions concerned with the protection and promotion of human rights, has been working to translate the requirements of these conventions in its domestic legislation and policies and to create another legislative human rights momentum inspired by the human rights balance provided by our true Islamic religion and supports its national commitment to human rights. Al Jamali added that Qatar’s accession to both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights reinforces this national commitment. Al-Jamali pointed out that the National Human Rights Committee is one of the leading national reference institutions for human rights in the country and works in parallel with other relevant national mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights at the national level.

For his part, Assistant Director of Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Interior Colonel Saad Salem Al Dosari said that human rights in the State of Qatar have become a constant strategic choice guiding the action of the State and society, and that the provision of guarantees necessary for their implementation has become an integral part of the requirements of the state of institutions, the support of the rule of law and good governance. Al Dosari added that this could be seen in the incorporation of ‘human rights’ into the Constitution, the National Vision 2030, the system of legislative instruments, the package of programs, projects and creative initiatives in favor of civil, political, economic, social and cultural human rights. Al Dosari praised the effective partnership and the joint action between the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of Interior and the NHRC in the areas of handling complaints and petitions of the public, commenting on the relevant draft laws and monitoring the human rights situation and others, adding that this partnership comes within the frame work of cooperation that was signed between the two parties in March 2018 and included vital topics related to exchange of publications and experiences, knowledge production, capacity building and awareness, and openness regionally and internationally and others. Colonel Al Dossari pointed out that this year witnessed joint scientific and awareness initiatives by the Human Rights Department and the NHRC on the occasion of International Women’s Day and the Arab Human Rights Day, while appreciating the role of the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordinating the efforts of the concerned authorities in the country to present the national performance in the field of human rights to the international community led by the United Nations, and the great effort of the UN Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region in strengthening national human rights capacities

For his part, Sheikh Mohammed bin Yousef Al-Thani, Assistant Director of Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the promotion and protection of human rights is a strategic choice as it forms the backbone of the policy of comprehensive reform and is at the top of the priorities of the State of Qatar, pointed out that it was emphasized in the Qatar National Vision 2030 and in the development strategies emanating from that vision, which included important aspects for key human rights issues in the fields of education, health, environment, expat labor rights, women’s empowerment and children’s rights.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Yousef Al-Thani noted that the State’s interest in promoting human rights was most evident in its accession last year to international covenants on human rights, ‘International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ and in strengthening the legislative and institutional structure as well as its commitment to submit and discuss its reports to UN human rights monitoring mechanisms.

Director of the UN Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region Dr. Abdel Salam Sidahmed praised the continuous cooperation between the Center and the NHRC and the Department of Human Rights at the Ministry of Interior through joint training activities. Dr. Abdel Salam Sidahmed also praised the joint efforts that resulted in the organization of this symposium on strengthening human rights mechanisms, stressing the importance of a mechanism for the national protection of human rights, especially among law enforcement agencies and emphasizing the independence of the judiciary.