It is time the international community, and the United Nations in particular, act and adopt a pro-active diplomacy to end the grave and flagrant violations of human rights by the siege countries against the citizens and residents of Qatar and protect the rights of the victims of the unjust blockade.
The commendable speech by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani during the high-level segment of the 37th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva proves this point.
H E Sheikh Mohammed said: “Stemming from the just legal position of the State of Qatar and to protect its legitimate rights, I call from this rostrum the Human Right Council and all its mechanisms, especially special procedures, to shoulder their responsibilities and to work on putting an end to the violations of human rights as a result of these racist unilateral coercive measures. Those who are responsible must be held accountable and victims must be compensated.”
Protection and promotion of human rights tops Qatar’s priorities.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Qatar is currently planning to adopt the National Plan for Human Rights, noting that its adoption will be in accordance with international standards in this regard. He said that Qatar continues its efforts to promote and protect human rights through positive engagement with all countries and institutions.
Similarly, National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Chairman Dr Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri called on the German, French and UK missions to the UN Human Rights Council to promptly move through the Council’s mechanisms to end the violations caused by the siege on Qatar. Al Marri held intensive meetings in Geneva with the permanent delegates of a number of diplomatic missions to the UNHRC. He said that the siege has affected the rights of people in Qatar as well as in the siege countries.
“Since the beginning of this crisis, we have been calling for separating the human file from political differences, especially when the countries are connected by social ties and common interests that are closely linked to their peoples’ daily lives. Every day that passes through this crisis has unsafe consequences, and this will widen the social gap between the brothers in the Gulf states, and it will strike the historical cohesion of the extended families known to the citizens of the GCC countries,” Al Marri said.
Despite the siege, Qatar is moving forward confidently, thanks to the country’s wise leadership and the unity of the people. Qatar is committed to preserving, promoting and protecting human rights at the local, regional and international levels.
