File photo used for representation only
The first Qatar National Human Rights Forum, which concluded yesterday, appreciated expatriate workers' role in developing FIFA World Cup infrastructure and called upon businesses to spend on projects to help youth enjoy the right to sport.
The two-day event was held under the theme, “The role of law enforcement agencies in protecting human rights during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022”. The event was hosted by the Qatar National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in partnership with the Ministry of Interior (MoI), Ministry of Labour (MoL), Ministry of Sports and Youth, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), and the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre.
NHRC Chairperson H E Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah said Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup will be a historical model that will be followed in all upcoming global sporting events.
She said the forum will be part of the committee’s annual strategy to discuss every year one of the most important issues that establish the protection of human rights and the preservation of dignity.
She also thanked the NHRC partners in organising the forum for their quick response to protect human rights during the World Cup, as human rights will be an immortal legacy for the generations.
In the closing session, Secretary-General of NHRC, Sultan bin Hassan Al Jamali, read the communiqué, emphasising on the continuation of preventive and awareness efforts by security agencies, media institutions, and Qatari opinion leaders to preserve public order and ensure a supportive national response to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
He appreciated what Qatar has accomplished regarding the issuance of Law No 10 of 2021 regarding the measures for hosting FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as a special and important legislative tool for maintaining public order during the event.
Sultan bin Hassan Al Jamali called for intensifying efforts to raise awareness of the law’s provisions through qualitative and general governmental awareness, information and communication mechanisms to achieve its aims.
He also asked for employing education and training mechanisms in the NHRC to raise awareness of the right to sport.
The statement also called for deepening of academic understanding of the legal frameworks regulating sports activities.
The forum praised the efforts made by the expatriate workers in preparing the infrastructure for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, recalling the need to enable them to enjoy the World Cup. It also appreciated the professional role by the Ministry of Labor.
The forum also drew attention to the need to approach the concept of the right to sport and the values and principles contained in the resolutions of the Human Rights Council and the relevant Olympic Charter.
The final statement stressed the need to pay attention to empowering the most vulnerable groups to enjoy the right to sport, especially persons with disabilities and facilitating their access to sports services and facilities.
The forum also drew attention to the importance of attracting the support of the business community for all policies and projects aimed at empowering young people and youth to enjoy ‘the right to sport’ by facilitating access to sports services and facilities within the framework of Corporate Social Responsibility.
The closing session of the forum was held under the title “Law Enforcement Agencies and the Promotion of Human Rights during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Preparations and Governing Values”.
It hosted officials from the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the Airport Security Department, the Airport Passport Department, the General Directorate of Traffic and the Police Training Institute at the Ministry of Interior.
The speakers reviewed global experiences in dealing with sports events on the human rights approach and the preparations by their security departments to receive this event through training and rehabilitation courses and workshops to deal with people coming from different cultural backgrounds, customs, nationalities and beliefs.
