New York: Qatar affirmed its belief in the importance of respecting, protecting and promoting human rights as a strategic choice through its wide strides in the area as it ratified several regional and international human rights conventions.
Alanood Qassim Al Tamimi, Third Secretary, Qatar’s permanent mission to the United Nations, made the remarks in a statement before the third committee meeting on the promotion and protection of human rights.
She said Qatar’s keenness and attention to protect human rights is reflected in its National Human Rights Day, celebrated on November 10 every year as a national event.
It embodies Qatar National Vision 2030, which includes key human rights issues that reflect the leadership’s attention to the promotion, protection and enrichment of human rights as an integral part of the country’s identity and culture.
Several government and non-governmental organisations and institutions concerned with human rights have been established at the Foreign Ministry’s Human Rights Department, National Human Rights Committee, Doha International Centre for Interfaith Dialogue, Doha Centre for Media Freedom all of which are playing a pivotal role in promoting human rights, she said.
Within the context of its growing keenness to promote and protect human rights, Qatar has hosted the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for Southwest Asia and the Arab Region to operate under the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, she said.
Al Tamimi said the report of the UN secretary-general has stressed the centre’s key role in capacity-building and in the promotion of the existing approach to human rights to combat human trafficking in the region.
She said Qatar is preparing to submit a draft resolution to the committee about the centre and is looking forward to support from UN members to it.
Al Tamimi also highlighted the broad international tribute Qatar received for efforts to promote and protect human rights and its open invitation to US friends and the reception for UN special rapporteurs during the review of its second national report to the UN Human Rights Council under the Universal Periodic Review.
As Qatar is elected for the third time to the Human Rights Council, she said, the state reiterates its keenness to fulfil its commitments in the human rights field.
She said Qatar is also looking forward to providing all support to UN initiatives to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms all over the world. QNA
