New York: Qatar is paying great attention to enhancing, respecting and protecting human rights, which constitute a major part of its policy and a strategic choice in the country’s comprehensive reform process.
This came as Yousuf Sultan Laram, Qatar’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN addressed the General Assembly on Article 63 of the Human Rights Council’s report.
He said Qatar National Vision covers education, the environment, health, women empowerment and child rights to build a safe and stable society steered by justice, equality and the rule of law. He stressed Qatar’s keenness to take up a constructive and effective role in protecting and enhancing human rights on the national, regional and international levels.
“Our participation during our membership in the Human Rights Council has reflected this keenness,” he said.
He said Qatar is committed to fulfilling its pledges, and looking forward to continuing to provide cooperation and support for UN human rights mechanisms to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms all over the world.
He said a review of Qatar’s second report to the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) provided a platform for introducing Qatar’s policies to enhance and protect human rights and highlight progress in the field.
Laram added that Qatar has acted upon recommendations made about its first national report including the amendment of its penal code, the enactment of a law on combating human trafficking in order to protect victims and to promote international cooperation in this area, and the establishment of the Qatar National Committee for the International Humanitarian Law in recognition of the importance of implementing principles of international humanitarian law to protect victims of disputes.
Laram said Qatar has made efforts on the legislative and institutional fronts to spread awareness, enhance and implement human rights and basic freedoms of people with disabilities by launching the “One Billion Strong” global initiative.
He expressed concern over the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and other occupied Arab territories.
He said, “We would like to point out that the Human Rights Council Resolution 29/25 reaffirms the principle of inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force and expresses concern about the fragmentation of the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, by building settlements.”
He said the resolution also expressed concern over the continuing systematic violations of human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel, the occupying power, its excessive use of force, and military operations against Palestinian civilians, including women, children and peaceful demonstrators.
He stressed that the Human Rights Council demanded in its resolution an end of all practices that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and full respect for human rights law.
He said the Human Rights Council’s response to the growing humanitarian crisis in Syria was important in light of the serious deterioration of the situation, killing of civilians and targeting them, in violation of international humanitarian law.
Laram also referred to the Human Rights Council Resolution 16/27 which condemned non-cooperation of the Syrian regime with the independent international commission of inquiry and indiscriminate attacks, including those by explosive barrels against civilian populated areas and infrastructure.
Laram affirmed Qatar’s commitment to continue to play a constructive and neutral role to contribute to promote and protect human rights, and cooperate with international organizations and UN agencies, particularly the Human Rights Council.QNA
