FROM LEFT: Dr Mohamad bin Saif Al Kuwari from National Committee of Human Rights Qatar, Khaled Johar, acting Director General, and Sami Al Haj, Manager, Public Liberties and Human Rights Department, at the symposium yesterday. Abdul Basit
DOHA: Several factors related to humanitarian work were discussed by experts yesterday during a seminar on ‘Humanitarian work — rights, duties and responsibilities’ at Four Seasons Hotel in Doha.
The Public Liberties and Human Rights Department of Aljazeera Media Network organised the event to coincide with Arab Day for Human Rights.
Representatives from several international and local organisations, including as Doctors Without Borders, International Committee of the Red Cross, Qatar Charity, Qatar Red Crescent and the Regional Office of High Commission of Human Rights took part.
Khaled Johar, acting Director General Aljazeera Media Network, stressed the increasing need for humanitarian work.
“The current situation in the world has left many women and children in a situation that they are in humanitarian need.”
The seminar aimed at countries in the region and international organisations and their commitment to humanitarian work, a basic human right guaranteed by international laws to protect human dignity and save victims .
Dr Mohamad bin Saif Al Kuwari from National Committee of Human Rights Qatar said, “Much concern about human rights and freedom has been raised because of issues and international and local legislations are developed to protect human rights, because human is the fundamental of any development.
“Human rights have become one issue affecting relations between countries, people have become more aware about risks during internal conflicts or wars, and at international level rights issues have become a significant factor governing international relations,” Al Kuwari added.
The seminar discussed challenges in the humanitarian field, especially with turbulences in the Middle East, criteria for identifying a ‘humanitarian crisis’ that requires immediate international intervention, hurdles in the way of partnership and cooperation agreements, intertwining relationship between humanitarian and military work, and rules governing relations between victims and humanitarian organisations, especially in situations where aid efforts are required for a long time.
How humanitarian organisations can maintain their commitments to parties in a conflict and satisfy victims’ needs by testifying about serious crimes they witness while performing their humanitarian duties and what these organisations do to ensure aid delivery were also discussed.
The Peninsula
