Minister of Labour H E Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri; Minister of State for International Cooperation H E Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad; and GCC Secretary-General H E Jasem Mohamed Abdullah Albudaiwi at the event.
Doha: Under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar, represented by the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, celebrated the tenth anniversary of the GCC Human Rights Declaration.
The event was attended by Minister of Labour H E Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri; Minister of State for International Cooperation H E Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad; and Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) H E Jasem Mohamed Abdullah Albudaiwi.
The celebration, which took place in Doha yesterday, coincided with International Human Rights Day on December 10. The event was attended by officials and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the country.
On the sidelines of the event, Albudaiwi launched a report detailing the GCC member states’ efforts to support and protect family unit from a human rights perspective, underscoring the council’s focus on family as the fundamental pillar of society.
In her opening remarks, Al Misnad described the GCC Human Rights Declaration, which was adopted at the 35th GCC summit in Doha in 2014, as a major milestone for member states. She emphasised that the declaration strengthens commitment of the GCC countries to human rights as a foundational pillar for building a bright future.
She highlighted that the declaration is a cornerstone in establishing the values of justice and human dignity, reaffirming the shared responsibility of the GCC states to protect human rights. She also acknowledged Qatar’s efforts in establishing institutions like the National Human Rights Committee, which works to spread the culture of human rights and enhance regional and international partnerships.
She pointed to H H the Amir’s speech at the 79th United Nations General Assembly in September 2024, reaffirming Qatar’s commitment to working with international partners and the United Nations to promote peace, security, sustainable development, human rights, and the rule of law at all levels.
In his remarks, Albudaiwi expressed his appreciation to H H the Amir for hosting the event and praised the Qatari leadership’s strong focus on human rights and providing the necessary means for a dignified life for people of the GCC states.
He said the GCC Human Rights Declaration is a celebration of the Gulf’s core values and reflects the commitment of GCC states to promote these values at national, regional, and international levels. He stated that this anniversary is an opportunity to renew commitment and strengthen joint cooperation in human rights within the Gulf. The GCC Secretary-General highlighted the tangible achievements of the GCC member states in advancing and protecting human rights, including support for women, children’s rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, and the fight against human trafficking. He stressed that continuing these efforts will require ongoing collaboration to ensure further progress and prosperity for people of the GCC.
Acting Director of the Human Rights Department at MoFA, Dr. Reem bint Ali Ibrahim Al Derham affirmed Qatar’s ongoing commitment to supporting and advancing human rights, as outlined in the country’s constitution.
