Geneva: The Human Rights Committee in Geneva reviewed the initial report of the State of Qatar submitted under Article 40 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The State of Qatar took part in the review session with a delegation chaired by Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, and representatives of the concerned government institutions in the State.
In an introductory statement to the Committee, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the report of the State of Qatar, in which a number of relevant national government agencies participated, was prepared in exceptional circumstances represented in the challenges that have faced the entire world due to the COVID-19 pandemic; indicating that the State was keen to present it on time.
He noted that the State of Qatar has achieved an advanced classification of 100% for the countries that submit their reports to international mechanisms, according to the statistical indicators issued by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
He explained that the State of Qatar, since its accession to the Covenant in 2018, has seen large-scale developments at the legislative and institutional levels and at the level of policies and strategies aimed at strengthening and promoting the human rights infrastructure.
The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs touched on the most prominent developments in this regard, noting that the State of Qatar has adopted a series of pioneering legislative and institutional reforms in the region with the aim of promoting protection of the rights of expatriate workers.
These reforms led to the abolition of the sponsorship system, the improvement of working and decent living conditions for all workers, and the creation of a safe and balanced work environment, in line with the international labour standards.
He added that the efforts of the State of Qatar in this regard are still ongoing, and that the National Human Rights Action Plan will be launched soon. He referred to the amendment of the decision to establish the National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking by Cabinet Resolution No. (4) of 2021, which gave powers and presence to law enforcement agencies competent to combat human trafficking in police, prosecution and judiciary stations. Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi added that the State of Qatar has also worked to guarantee the right to litigation as a constitutional right.
He noted that the State of Qatar, thanks to its unremitting efforts to improve the human rights situation, the steady implementation of its National Development Vision 2030, and its comprehensive sectoral strategies, has taken important steps in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.
He added that the submission of the State of Qatar’s report comes at a time when the country is preparing to host the most prominent global sporting event - the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
He explained that the State of Qatar, through the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, ensures the application and protection of basic human rights principles for all those working in these projects, and views hosting this major event as a valuable opportunity to promote the values of equality, solidarity and mutual respect.
He summarised some of these positive outcomes represented in raising awareness among State employees of human rights principles and standards, contributing to establishing and strengthening national institutions working in the field of human rights, as well as increasing the pace of ongoing legislative reforms and reviewing human rights policies.
At the conclusion of the first review of the State of Qatar’s report, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the review was professional and objective and dealt with many important aspects related to the exchange of views on how to implement the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, stressing the keenness of Qatar’s delegation to clarify the measures adopted by the State in this regard, and to listen to the views of the Committee’s experts on issues of interest.
He also assured the Committee that the State of Qatar will take into account the concluding observations and recommendations of the review process, and that these observations will be the focus of attention of the competent authorities when formulating national policies and strategies in all fields, especially since the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is considered a comprehensive document of a wide range of rights and freedoms, and deals with many important aspects in the system of human rights principles and standards.
