Session of Arab human rights body commences
The 17th session of the Arab Human Rights Committee began yesterday at the headquarters of the Arab League’s General Secretariat. In his speech at the opening session, HE the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi, who headed Qatar’s delegation at the session, said that the State appreciates the role the committee plays in implementing the articles of the Arab Charter on Human Rights.
He stressed that Qatar fully co-operates with the committee to help it carry out its role in improving the standard of human rights in the region.
He added that Qatar continues to focus on the provisions of the Arab Charter and has taken legislative, legal, administrative and other appropriate measures to enhance the rights guaranteed by the Charter and provide the means to ensure their promotion, development and modernisation within the framework of integrated social development.
He stressed that Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, celebrated the Arab Human Rights Day, which falls on March 16, and was approved by the Arab League. The celebration aimed to raise awareness at the local and national levels of human rights, the Arab Charter on Human Rights, and the principles enshrined in the Arab Charter on Human Rights.
Al-Hammadi indicated that this commitment was based on national references, foremost of which the constitution of Qatar, which affirmed and consolidated human rights and included them in 24 articles under its third chapter on public rights and duties.
He added that Qatar National Vision 2030, through its two national development strategies, works on creating an environment that supports human rights in line with regional and international accords on the subjects.
He highlighted the affirmation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad alThani, in his speech before the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly last September, that human development and protecting human rights are Qatar’s priority.
For his part, the Chairman of the Arab Human Rights Committee Jaber Saleh al-Marri, said that the Arab human rights system, of which the committee represents one of its tools, confirmed that the Arab culture is not an obstacle to human rights, but rather a guarantee for its protection.
He highlighted the importance of encouraging other Arab countries who are yet to join the charter to do so. In his speech, al-Marri thanked, on behalf of the committee, Qatar for its commitment to submit its second periodic report in preparation for its discussion and review of the human rights situation in the country in the context of this session. It is the first session held by the committee after the election of its new members.
It is also the first session to be held since the pandemic.