NHRC highlights rights of persons with disabilities

Doha, Qatar: Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) H E Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah has stressed the need to address the challenges of people with disabilities and for society to adopt policies and legislation that integrate them into society.

Speaking yesterday during the opening of the NHRC Second National Forum for Human Rights themed, ‘Human rights of persons with disabilities; protection and empowerment,’ held in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and Family, Al Attiyah said the two-day forum would shed light on the importance of rights for people with disabilities and their contributions to society.

She said the forum will discuss challenges and best practices to address issues surrounding people with disabilities, especially climate change and evolving technology.

Al Attiyah emphasised Qatar’s commitment to accessibility, citing the features of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 infrastructure, which catered to people with disabilities. She also noted the country’s Permanent Constitution of 2004, which affirmed the rights of persons with disabilities. 

She highlighted Qatar’s role in adopting the UN Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008 and Qatar’s ratification by Decree No.28 of 2008. Besides, Qatar has also ratified the 2018 Marrakesh Convention to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled. She also underlined the NHRC’s views, presented in 2015 on Act No.2 of 2004 on persons with special needs. Meanwhile, Assistant Undersecretary for Family Affairs at the Ministry of Social Development and Family Affairs, Sheikha bint Jassem Al Thani said people with disabilities deserve decent and dignified life and equal rights like everyone in society. She said there must be concerted efforts by all stakeholders to achieve comprehensive rights, adding that the forum comes at the right time for “us to discuss this and come up with good policies.” Sheikha said the ministry is particularly interested in providing high-quality programmes to facilitate prospects for people with disabilities and ensure they play their part in helping Qatar achieve its national vision. She added that Qatar is preparing to host the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in December and the fourth Global Disability Summit 2028.

In a video message, the UN Chair of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, lauded the NHRC for the event and stressed that states and society must align policies and resolutions to cater to people with disabilities. She said people with disabilities should actively engage in decision-making, consult, and meaningfully collaborate with society. Speaking to The Peninsula, Deputy Chairperson of NHRC Dr. Mohammad bin Saif Al Kuwari said, “We need to merge these persons with society and ensure their rights to work, education and everything. We must think about improving laws and regulations to support persons with disabilities.”

Commenting about his expectations for the forum, Dr. Al Kuwari said, “At the end of this forum, we get recommendations and outcomes, and I hope the main recommendation would focus on the legislation – which is very important.”

On the sidelines of the event, the NHRC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Qatari Society for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Special Needs, signed by NHRC Chairperson and Prof Aisha Al Mannai.

The forum, moderated by a member of the Qatari Society for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Special Needs who used the Braille system, also saw two panel discussions. The first discussed ‘Implementation of the International Convention on the Protection of Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities: An International and National Perspective’ while the second covered ‘Empowering Persons with Disabilities to Enjoy Human Rights: Opportunities, Challenges and Aspirations.’