HE the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah held a series of meetings with a number of international officials to discuss institutional cooperation and joint work to support the human rights system and national human rights institutions around the world.
During her meeting with HE Minister of Justice of Iraq Dr. Khalid Shwani, Her Excellency discussed the prospects for institutional cooperation between them in the areas of exchanging expertise and experiences and preparing studies in the field of human rights.
Her Excellency stressed the NHRC's interest in Arab cooperation in the field of human rights so that all the challenges facing the peoples of the region can be tackled, including the current plight of the Palestinian people.
She expressed NHRC's keenness to support the efforts of sisterly countries in establishing, re-establishing and supporting national human rights institutions, expressing the Committee's aspiration to the completion of the procedures for appointing the council of the Iraq Human Rights Commission.
The two sides discussed the possibility of the NHRC in the State of Qatar cooperating with the Iraqi Commission, supporting its capabilities, exchanging experiences and best practices with it, and helping it comply with the Paris Principles once its appointment is completed.
During her meeting with HE Director of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions Kieren Fitzpatrick, Al Attiyah stressed the importance of the Asia-Pacific Forum for the NHRC in the State of Qatar and its keenness to support the Forum and cooperate with it and with national institutions in Asia and the Pacific.
The two sides discussed cooperation in the field of supporting the capabilities of emerging national institutions in order to comply with the Paris Principles, cooperation in order to strengthen the role of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, enhance the role of national institutions in the international human rights system, and hold joint activities between the two sides.
During her meeting with UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination E. Tendayi Achiume, Her Excellency called for cooperation in efforts to eliminate contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, intolerance and xenophobia, by holding awareness-raising activities and building and strengthening capacities.
She pointed to the interaction of the State of Qatar with international human rights protection mechanisms in general and the procedures mechanism in particular, and the positive developments taken by the State with regard to measures related to strengthening legislation, public policies, procedures and practices that promote equality and non-discrimination, including important developments related to immigration and labor systems undertaken by the State in order to enhance the rights of expatriate workers.
Al Attiyah noted the interaction of the NHRC with special rapporteurs, independent experts and working groups in the context of their visits to the State of Qatar, including the meeting with HE the former Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination.
She stressed that the forms of racial discrimination that the Palestinian people have been exposed to for decades have worsened during the recent attacks, including the exacerbation of forms of racism, intolerance and xenophobia against those who sympathize with the cause of the Palestinian people and defenders of their rights in some countries of the world, which includes the criminalization of peaceful demonstrations and sympathy with civilians who are exposed to violations in the Gaza Strip. This requires rapid action to address the consequences that may aggravate the problems of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia for generations to come.
During her meeting with HE Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Alena Douhan, Her Excellency discussed the risks resulting from unilateral coercive measures and their impact on violating the enjoyment of the right to adequate food and exacerbating food crises and crises related to the enjoyment of the right to health and the right to adequate housing, among others.
The two sides discussed developing international standards to contribute to eliminating double standards in dealing with unilateral coercive measures, as a violation that blatantly and explicitly contradicts the UN Charter, and requires a consistent effort from all the main organs of the UN to confront it and prevent its recurrence.
The two sides agreed to hold consultations, meetings and cooperation between national human rights institutions and the Special Rapporteur regarding developing the criteria for the Special Rapporteur's mandate and developing her work mechanisms, especially since unilateral coercive measures seriously affect various human rights, requiring interaction and cooperation of all stakeholders to confront their effects.
Her Excellency highlighted the effects resulting from unilateral coercive measures against the Palestinian people in general and against the people of Gaza in particular, and the resulting widespread violations of the right to life, the right to health, the right to food and other rights.
Her Excellency referred to the efforts made by the State of Qatar to reach a comprehensive ceasefire and to mitigate the effects of the war.
Her Excellency reviewed the efforts made by the NHRC of the State of Qatar and the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions in this regard, through communication with the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and communication with other international officials with the aim of ending the violations against the Palestinian people.
