The President of the National Human Rights Committee, Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al-Marri called on Mr. Vojislav ŠUC, President of the Human Rights Council to intervene urgently to end the blockade on the State of Qatar and to activate ways to compensate those affected by the blockade.

This came during the meetings at the UN Palace in Geneva, with Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar. The two sides discussed the repercussions of the Gulf crisis on human rights. Al-Marri explained the latest developments in human rights violations resulting from the blockade. During the meeting, Al Marri stressed that all international missions, international organizations, international human rights officials and those who have stood up to these violations have conducted direct interviews with the victims of the blockade and affirmed beyond any doubt that the arbitrary and unilateral measures practiced by the blockading countries directly affected the rights of citizens of the State Qatar and its residents and citizens of the GCC countries. Al-Marri expressed readiness of the National Human Rights Committee to cooperate with the Human Rights Council in everything that would preserve human dignity and contribute to the Council’s position.

Pier Antonio Panzeri: We are committed to bringing the issue of violations resulting from the blockade imposed on Qatar into the European Parliament

The State of Qatar has taken great steps to protect workers’ rights

Hearing of Dr. Al Marri in the European Parliament will be before Ramadan

Doha: April 8, 2018

*A consultative agreement between the European Parliament and the NHRC

The National Human Rights Committee hosted a press conference by Mr. Pier Antonio Panzeri, president of the Sub-Committee on Human rights of the European Parliament. During the press conference, Panzeri stressed his commitment to bring the issue of violations resulting from the blockade imposed on Qatar before the European Parliament and holding a hearing for Dr. Ali Ben Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee before the European Parliament before next Ramadan, pointing out that the effects of the blockade are devastating and cannot be accepted. He also praised the steps taken by Qatar in the field of protection of human rights, stressing at the same time the agreement with the President of the National Human Rights Committee to conclude a consultative agreement for the exchange of information and data. Panzeri explained that this press conference came after a series of meetings with a number of victims of the blockade imposed on Qatar since June 5, and representatives of communities, in addition to the talks with HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Qatar, and meetings with Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee, and a number of ministries and officials other bodies. Panzeri added that the State of Qatar has taken great strides in favor of workers’ rights, stating that “I came to Doha at the invitation of the National Human Rights Committee, and I think the visit is useful because it allowed me to get acquainted with the facts. It was a very positive visit through meetings with the National Human Rights Committee, Representatives of communities, meetings with various ministries, the Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior.”

Panzeri noted that his visit came to ascertain the current situation of workers’ rights as the preparations for the 2022 World Cup continue, “we have recognized the great steps that have been accomplished and what will be accomplished, in particular Qatar’s signing of agreements with the ILO on following up the social rights of workers, domestic workers and workers in general, and provides workers with the possibility of complaint before the courts, which are positive developments. The National Human Rights Committee has been accredited status “A” by the GANHRI. I believe that the positive points must be accompanied by complementary requirements relating to the various conventions. We are aware that the work is in progress. We would like to pay more attention to see real implementation and respond positively. We commend Qatar’s accession to the United Nations Protocol to Combat Discrimination and Violence against Women and the possibility of granting it its nationality to its citizens. We believe that Qatar should sign the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to be the first Arab country to sign the Convention”.

* The effects of the blockade are devastating

On his conclusions about the repercussions of the blockade imposed on Qatar, the president of the president of the Sub-Committee on Human rights of the European Parliament: “We had discussions, and we met many people suffer the consequences of damage caused by the blockade. Apart from the political considerations that may arise and the differences, in my view the policies of the blockade have negative effects on people.” He added: “I listened to the statements of those affected by the blockade, and we will bring the discussions that we have brought to the European Parliament, as well as all the human rights concerns related to Qatar. The effects on the people due to the blockade are clear and we will put them at the center of the discussions of the European Parliament.”

* A consultative agreement between the European Parliament and the NHRC

On the other hand, the President of the president of the Sub-Committee on Human rights of the European Parliament, Panziri, said that the discussions he had with Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al-Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee, were very important and positive, and we agreed on the need for continued cooperation. The signing of a cooperation agreement between the European Parliament and the National Human Rights Committee will be signed later, and probably before the month of Ramadan, allowing the use of exchange of information and data between the parties. He added: After the end of my visit to Doha, I will have an opportunity to open discussions in the Sub-Commission on Human Rights in the European Parliament on the conclusions, and we can say that we have reached a bilateral agreement serves the parties and this is our goal.

* Hearing in the European Parliament before Ramadan

Regarding the next step to be taken by the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the European Parliament, Panziri said: ” I do not have the authority to carry out a political process, and politically there are qualified people and I hope they will solve the crisis. The commitment we have taken during the visit is to organize in the coming weeks a joint hearing in the European Parliament in the presence of Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee, To discuss the implications of the blockade.

There will be a hearing in the European Parliament for the National Human Rights Committee, the goal is to exchange ideas and discuss the implications of the blockade within the European Parliament before Ramadan. To organize this meeting.

* A delegation from the EU-Qatar Parliamentary Friendship Group

On the possibility of dispatching a European parliamentary mission in the future to investigate the effects of the blockade, the president of the Sub-Commission on Human Rights in the European Parliament revealed that there will be a visit to Doha of the EU-Qatar Parliamentary Friendship Group in the coming weeks, expressing his hope to be a fruitful visit.

* The rights of the victims of the blockade do not fall

The president of the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the European Parliament noted that all persons who have been deprived of their rights and who have been victims of the blockade on Qatar are entitled to claim their rights over time.
In response to a question on the importance of the visit of the parliamentary and human rights delegations, Panziri said: “our duty is to expose these violations to the public opinion. Qatar’s message will be much stronger as reforms continue, with both tracks supporting each other”.

Doha : April 8, 2018

The President of the National Human Rights Committee, Dr. Ali Ben Smaikh Al Marri, met today with Mr. Franco Bassanini, Special Adviser to the Italian Prime Minister, former Minister of Public Administration and Regional Affairs, in the presence of the Italian Ambassador to the State, HE Pascal Salzano, – and Ms. Linda Lanzilotta, former vice president of the Italian Senate. The meeting discussed means of cooperation on issues of mutual interest and activating mechanisms to exchange experiences and expertise in human rights issues.

Marrakech: ِApril 3, 2018

The Minister of Justice of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Mohamed Aujjar, received today Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee. The two sides discussed means of joint cooperation and exchanging experiences and expertise in issues of human rights.
This came on the sidelines of the participation of the NHRC, represented by Dr. Ali Ben Smaikh, at the invitation of the Moroccan Ministry of Justice at the International Conference on ” The independence of the judiciary: guaranteeing the rights of litigants and upholding the principles of justice”, organized by the Moroccan Ministry of Justice, Public Prosecution under the patronage of His Majesty the King, Mohammed VI, King of Morocco during the period from April 2 to 4, 2018.

The National Human Rights Committee called for recognition of its regional and international efforts to spread and establish human rights culture and to achieve best practices in this regard through international conferences organized in Doha to discuss the most important threats to human rights issues in the Arab region and the Middle East. The conference was attended by more than 40 justice ministers from around the world, as well as heads of the Supreme Judicial Councils and heads of public prosecution, as well as human rights organizations, professional bodies, experts and academics from around the world. In order to discuss the independence of the judiciary between guaranteeing the rights of litigants and respect for the rules of justice through the development of the independence of the judiciary in the world’s variables, enhancing the efficiency of judicial administration and developing the institutional capacities of the justice system.

Doha: March 25, 2018

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, met in his office at the Committee’s headquarters with Dr. Pasquale Salzano, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to the State of Qatar. The two sides discussed means of joint cooperation and the exchange and transfer of experiences and expertise in human rights issues.

Dr. Al-Kuwari: Qatar’s ranking first in the Arab world and 33 globally in the Human Development Report as a result of its focus on human rights and sustainable development

Dr. Asmaa Al-Attiyah: we can’t talk about “Sustainable development” without enjoying fundamental rights that enable peoples to contribute to development

The National Human Rights Committee, the Police College and Qatar University celebrated the Arab Day for Human Rights on 19 and 20 March. Dr. Mohamed Saif Al Kuwari presented two lectures under the title of Human Rights and Sustainable Development. The first lecture was held at the Directorate of Academic Affairs at the Police College, for members of the third joint qualifying training course of those graduating from civilian Universities, in the presence of Captain Mohammed Oweidah Al Hajri, Head of Student Affairs Department, Captain Khalifa Ahmed Bo Hashim, Head of Research and Studies Department, a number of faculty officers and staff of the National Committee for Human Rights, in the College of Girls.

In his definition of sustainable development, Al-Kuwari said: “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Development involves a progressive transformation of economy and society. A development path that is sustainable in a physical sense could theoretically be pursued even in a rigid social and political setting. But physical sustainability cannot be secured unless development policies pay attention to such considerations as changes in access to resources and in the distribution of costs and benefits. Even the narrow notion of physical sustainability implies a concern for social equity between generations, a concern that must logically be extended to equity within each generation.”

Al-Kuwari said “Sustainable development has a strong relationship with human rights. This relationship is highlighted in the United Nations Declaration on the Right to Development in 1986, which was linked to international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants and other conventions and instruments of the United Nations where the elimination of human rights violations would contribute to the creation of favorable conditions for the development and that all human rights are interdependent and that the promotion of development requires attention to the promotion of civil and political, economic, social and cultural rights. The Declaration states that “states should cooperate with each other in eliminating obstacles to development and ensuring broad based sustainable development”

In the same context and with reference to the state of Qatar, the lecturer pointed to the most important development goals of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including the eradication of poverty, the provision of good health and well-being, gender equality, decent work, and economic growth, as well as the provision of the right to education, housing, dignity, welfare, health, work, equality and non-discrimination, and the right to life”.

Dr. Al-Kuwari added: “Development and human rights are the cornerstones of Qatar’s policy in the fields of education, health, and environment, as well as the rights of children, women, the elderly, persons with disabilities and expatriate labor. This indicates that the Qatari government is intensifying its work on the SDGs and taking care of its indicators as a strong reference for the assessment that supports the ongoing development process in the state in many fields, whether in the economic, social or environmental fields, and guaranteeing the rights of future generations to live in dignity”.

Dr. Al-Kuwari called for emphasis on a human rights approach to the implementation of sustainable development goals and a move towards rights-based policy-making and emphasizes development. It also recommended that the focus be placed on the human element in the development process, recognizing human right and responsibility to engage in the realization of development-related government policies and objectives.

Al-Kuwari noted the relationship between human rights and sustainable development as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that the Declaration is based on a human rights-based approach in its balance by containing articles on rights holders, and emphasizes the interdependent role of both parties in the development process as a right and duty of the state and citizen, the right and the right to them, highlighting that the most important rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are available in article 2, which states: ” Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty”.
In the same context, Dr. Asma Al-Attiyah is Head of the Psychological Sciences Department, associate professor of special education at Qatar University and member of the National Committee for Human Rights, said that this is the second event during this academic year which was organized in cooperation and partnership with the National Human Rights Committee, Al Attiyah said that “The first event was presented by Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National Human Rights Committee, where The second event is about” Human Rights and Sustainable Development “presented by Dr. Mohammed Bin Saif Al Kuwari, Member of the National Human Rights Committee, in the framework of the cooperation between Qatar University and the National Human Rights Committee.

Al-Attiyah said: “In this regard, we, in the Faculty of Education, through all our academic activities, are keen to empower our students by giving them the opportunity to participate in all events and meetings on human rights and to provide them with the opportunity to manage many seminars organized by the College, Achieves the vision of our dear homeland Qatar 2030. This important seminar is an enlightening message from the university to reach its students first, then the local community and the Arab world. Al-Attiyah added that human rights in our Arab homeland, which extends from the ocean to the Gulf, should be considered from all aspects, including political, social, cultural, health aspects. Human “fruit of the fruits of human societies correct in the basic rules, and sound in their spiritual and intellectual construction. Attiyah pointed out that the theme of the Arab Day for Human Rights this year is “Human Rights and Sustainable Development”. It is not possible to talk about sustainable development and intergenerational communication, unless the humans can enjoy their fundamental rights that enable him to contribute strongly to development. Therefore, it was important to shed light on these aspects during the seminar, which was attended by a large number of female students and members of the academic and administrative bodies of the college and the university.

Doha – 18 March 2018

The National Human Rights Committee signed a cooperation agreement with the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of the Interior to enhance the prospects for cooperation and exchange of information, in order to achieve greater coordination and cooperation in monitoring and addressing public complaints. The agreement was signed by Ms. Maryam Bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Secretary General of the National Human Rights Committee, and Brigadier Abdullah Saqr Al Mohannadi, Director of the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Interior.
The terms of the agreement include areas and prospects for cooperation between the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of the Interior and the National Human Rights Committee, exchange of expertise and experiences, and the handling of complaints and petitions received from the public. The terms of the agreement also include cooperation in the field of knowledge production and capacity building, and legislative harmonization with international human rights standards. The agreement signed between the National Human Rights committee and the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Interior is very important not only for enhancing cooperation and coordination between the two sides, but also for allowing the parties to coordinate their efforts to deal with public complaints more effectively to protect the rights and respond to the concerns, and this is one of the most important objectives of the National Human Rights committee.

Campaigns against Qatari humanitarian action have hit the regional and international humanitarian system

Calling on the UN Secretary-General to record the violations of the blockade in the annual report and to present it to the General Assembly

Al-Marri calls on the United Nations mechanisms to address the parties to the crisis to address violations before any settlement of the solution

New York: March 16, 2018

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, president of the National human rights committee of the State of Qatar stressed that the blockade imposed on the Qatari humanitarian organizations and the accusations of the countries of the blockade that they carry out terrorist activities is considered a part of the distortion campaigns that target Qatari organizations in general and the humanitarian developmental work carried out by charitable organizations in Qatar. Al-Marri called on the United Nations to take firmer positions on violations of human rights committed by the blockading states and to refer to the consequences of the blockade in the annual report of the Secretary-General to the United Nations General Assembly.

This came during a series of intensive meetings held in New York with Mrs. Ursula Mueller is the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Khao Pedro Valle, Head of the Permanent Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, and senior officials of Human Rights Watch and representatives of a number of European delegations. Dr. Al-Marri said that listing national humanitarian organizations in the terrorism list by the countries of the blockade is a dangerous precedent in the Gulf region in attempts to impede the development work carried out by the national organizations, thus depriving venerable groups receiving support from Qatari organizations.

Al Marri said: “These criminal charges are a serious violation of the right to development and target not only Qatari humanitarian organizations, but also vulnerable groups that need support. Qatari humanitarian organizations are one of the components of civil society and it is important in promoting and protecting human rights. The development of communities and the performance of various voluntary actions constitute a direct and distinct contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights in general, and economic and social rights in particular, including the right to decent life.

Al-Marri added that the accusations of the countries of the blockade against the Qatari humanitarian organizations are hindering efforts to combat and eradicate poverty, and provide aid and relief to those in need, is a flagrant violation of the right to comprehensive and sustainable development.

Dr. Ali briefed Ms. Mueller on all the reports documented by the National Human Rights Committee against the humanitarian organizations in Qatar, calling for the activation of cooperation between the National Human Rights Committee and the United Nations in the field of giving humanitarian action a human rights dimension in terms of the economic, social and developmental rights of the peoples and based on the important principle adopted by the United Nations (fight against poverty). Al Marri stressed the readiness of the NHRC in Qatar to engage in partnership with the United Nations to develop this dimension. Al-Marri said that the United Nations Millennium Declaration in 2000 included combating poverty as one of the main goals of the United Nations. In the same context, Dr. Al-Marri called on the United Nations to take firmer positions on the violations of the basic principles of human rights and to move urgently to address the parties to the crisis to immediately lift these violations and compensate the victims before any settlement of the political solution. Al Marri called on further moves by the United Nations mechanisms to redress the victims of the blockade. Al-Marri called on the Secretary-General of the United Nations to the address countries of the blockade for an immediate lifting of the humanitarian violations caused by its arbitrary unilateral measures and the consequences of the blockade in the annual report to the United Nations General Assembly. Furthermore, Al-Marri gave the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs a background on the movements of the National Human Rights Committee, both at the level of the United Nations and its mechanisms or before specialized international agencies.

In his meeting with Mr. Khao Pedro Valle, the President of the National Human Rights Committee praised the role played by the European Union in this crisis and the great understanding of the violations resulting from the blockade imposed on Qatar, stressing that the countries of the blockade has continued in the violations in violation of all international norms and all calls of the United Nations and international organizations for the need to neutralize the humanitarian file.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ali in a meeting with senior officials of Human Rights Watch, stressed the necessity of exerting human rights pressure to put an immediate end to the arbitrary and unilateral measures imposed by the countries of blockade on citizens and residents of Qatar, compensate those affected by the blockade, refrain from dropping the file of human violations in any political settlements, and addressThe humanitarian issue in the pre-Camp David consultations.

Despite the reports issued by Human Rights Watch and the reports of the International Organization and the National Human Rights Committee, which proved beyond any doubt the serious human rights violations resulting from the blockade of Qatar, the leaders of the blockading countries are occasionally informed of their unwillingness to lift the injustice suffered by the victims. During the meeting, Al-Marri renewed his total rejection of any solutions to the crisis that go beyond the immediate lifting of the suffering of urgent humanitarian cases including mixed families from any procedures and property owners.
In the same context, Al-Marri held separate meetings with representatives of a number of European delegations to the United Nations. During the meetings, Al-Marri gave a detailed explanation of the latest humanitarian violations resulting from the blockade imposed on the State of Qatar, and called on representatives of the delegations to address their countries with the need to place the humanitarian file as a priority in all stages of resolving the crisis.

Any consultations to resolve the situation should anticipate actions that take into account urgent humanitarian situations

Files of the victims of the blockade was presented in preparatory meetings to leaders of the parties to the crisis in Washington

Dispersing families and striking investments does not ensure an environment conducive to a unified cooperation council

The blockade of Qatar has left a growing sense of insecurity and lack of confidence in the economic, social and economic aspects

Washington, March 14, 2018

President of the National Human Rights Committee called on the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the US Congress and a number of members of Congress and the US President Donald Trump to raise the human rights issue as a priority in the Camp David consultations to resolve the Gulf crisis. This came during a hearing by Dr. Ali bin Smaikh in the US capital, Washington, before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the US Congress; the hearing was attended by a group of members of the commission headed by Republican Party Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Randy Haltgren. A series of meetings held yesterday by Al Marri with a number of senators, including Karen Bass, a member of Congress, who is active in the subcommittee on global human rights, Republican Representative of the Party, Mr. Francis Rooney, Representative of the Party to the Foreign Affairs Committee and Congress Representative, Mr. Tom Garrett who is a member of the Sub-Committee on Universal Human Rights. And Congressman Brad Shermin, the highest representative of Democrats in the Foreign Relations Committee. The meeting discussed the importance of the file of violations caused by the blockade and not to exceed in any negotiations to resolve the current political crisis, immediate lifting of unilateral arbitrary measures and compensation of the victims including affected citizens of the State of Qatar and residents on its territory and citizens of the Gulf cooperation Council. “We will continue to follow closely all the Camp David arrangements so that we can see the necessary guarantees that the humanitarian issue will not be floated in any political settlement,” Al Marri said, stressing that without redressing the victims and the reparation of any damage, any dialogue is subject to failure. Al Marri added: “From our perspective, we see that the current Gulf crisis has cast a shadow over the human rights situation.

In his meetings, Dr. Al-Marri gave a detailed explanation about the violations resulted of the blockade, pointing out that these countries still reject the calls of international organizations and the National Human Rights Committee to neutralize the humanitarian file from the political disputes and promote calls to end the unjust measures that hit the social fabric of the Gulf States. “The unity and cohesion of the Gulf Cooperation Council depends on a cohesive social fabric, the Gulf families and the discourse of hatred, incitement and violence is growing. Therefore, one of the most important steps to resolve the crisis is the immediate end to the suffering of families, and compensation of right holders.
In the same context, Al Marri stressed that the blockade crisis may disrupt the development efforts not only in the region but in many countries of the world, pointing out that the blockade has left a growing sense of insecurity and lack of confidence in the economic, social and economic aspects, especially after the large violations and the heavy losses incurred by individuals and major international companies operating in the Gulf region. Al Marri said that the insistence of the blockading countries to continue the violations is a clear message from those countries that hit the unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The hearing before the Tom Lantos Committee is the second of its kind of Dr. Ali Bin Smaikh, where the first was in October 2017. Tom Lantos followed the first meeting with a public hearing at the Congress, during which they discussed the repercussions of the humanitarian blockade imposed on Qatar and its negative impacts on citizens and residents of Qatar.

Washington, March 13, 2018

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar met today with Mr. Tim Linder King, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Gulf Affairs. Dr. Al-Marri discussed the repercussions of the blockade on human rights and humanitarian situation after more than nine months of blockade.