The State of Qatar has worked to strengthen the mechanism to protect and ensure human rights at home and abroad. Qatar’s belief that protection of human rights is the basic factor for economic, social, cultural and environmental transformations of the country is reflected in Qatar National Vision 2030, which focuses on the main issues of human rights in education, healthcare, environment, labor rights, women empowerment and rights of children. Qatar has also been paying an active role in the UN Human Rights Council, to help protect rights and address human rights violations perpetrated in all parts of the world.
Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has said: “The State of Qatar has pursued a consistent policy to protect and promote human rights, on the basis of our Arab and Islamic principles that uphold human values, and are keen to honour our commitment in this respect at the national and international levels to defend individual and collective rights and respect for human rights and dignity.”
Over the past decades, the country has undertaken significant work to ensure that rights of each and every segment of society are protected. Qatar established the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in 2002 and through a Decree law in 2010 made it an independent and permanent official body with a separate legal personality and an independent budget. The committee has been given autonomy, immunity and legal guarantees to its members in order to empower it in carrying out its tasks.
NHRC has advanced the state’s agenda on protection of human rights and has been recognised for its effective work and contributions. NHRC has been awarded ‘A’ status of accreditation with the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI). This is the highest status classification and the NHRC has retained it for the third consecutive term, a recognition for the committee’s work towards protecting and promoting human rights.
Chairperson of NHRC H E Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah said the committee’s financial and administrative independence was key for it being awarded the top GANHRI accreditation. The committee’s recommendations are given due attention and consideration by the government, the chairperson said.
Fully compliant with the requirements of accreditation and classification, the NHRC has become one of the regional and international pillars in the process of protecting and promoting human rights. The committee is also actively engaged with national human rights institution in the region to strengthen their expertise in the human rights field.
