Geneva: HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah participated Friday in the high-level informal discussion marking the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Council, under the theme: "Twenty Years, One Council: What Have We Achieved and Where Do We Go From" held in Geneva.
In her remarks during the discussion, Her Excellency stated, "As the international community celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Council, the State of Qatar joins other countries in commending the Council’s contribution to promoting and protecting human rights over the past two decades."
She explained that the Council has established a unique institutional framework, particularly through the Universal Periodic Review mechanism, special procedures, technical cooperation, and the active participation of stakeholders, which has contributed to strengthening national capacities, encouraging dialogue, and promoting the exchange of experiences among countries.
HE the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office at Geneva also noted that the continuation of conflicts, humanitarian crises, and grave human rights violations underscores the need to focus efforts on implementation and achieving tangible results. She emphasized that the true measure of the Council's success lies in its ability to bring about real improvements in people's lives.
She added, "Looking ahead, the priority should be ensuring that the Council remains effective, credible, and fit for purpose in an increasingly complex international environment." She stressed the need to strengthen the Council's preventive role through implementation, capacity building, and technical cooperation. She affirmed that efforts to enhance effectiveness should lead to greater impact, while maintaining the Council's inclusiveness, transparency, and intergovernmental character, strengthening coordination between Geneva and New York, and reinforcing the interrelationship between human rights, development, peace, and security.
Concluding her remarks, Her Excellency stated that building trust among member states, respecting diverse perspectives, and maintaining a spirit of cooperation will be fundamental to the Council's future success.
