Women, children are primary victims of wars, armed conflicts: Dr. Al Kuwari

HE the Vice-Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari, emphasised that the State of Qatar's permanent constitution embodies the aspirations for building a modern state that strives for peace and sustainable development for present and future generations.HE Dr. Al Kuwari made these remarks at a side event on the margins of the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, titled "Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Women and Children in Armed Conflict." He stated that Qatar actively participates with the UN in promoting peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations, believing that humanity's future depends on international cooperation, respect for international law, and inclusivity. He noted that 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of Qatar's permanent constitution, expressing pride that the constitution has laid the foundation for a state based on law, justice, peace, and human rights for all, including women and children.He pointed out that international reports indicate that armed conflicts undermine human rights, with women and children being the most affected victims. According to UNICEF's 2022 report, over 104,100 children were killed or injured in armed conflicts between 2005 and 2020. Moreover, UN Women verified 2,455 cases of sexual violence related to armed conflict in 2022, noting that many cases go unreported. Violence against women globally has increased 16.1 times between 2005 and 2020, with over half of these incidents occurring in conflict-affected countries. These numbers have risen due to conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, and elsewhere since 2022. In the Arab region, 70 % of war victims are women and children, as reported by UN Women and the Arab Women Organization.HE Dr. Al Kuwari outlined the NHRC's extensive activities in promoting and protecting the rights of women and children during and after armed conflicts. The NHRC aims to foster a culture of peace, human rights, rule of law, justice, tolerance, accountability, and non-impunity. Notably, the NHRC supports building the capacities of Arab national human rights institutions in conflict zones like Palestine, Sudan, Libya, and Iraq, as a national mechanism for the protection of rights holders, including vulnerable groups such as women, children, minorities, refugees and human rights defenders. It monitors the conditions of civilians evacuated from Afghanistan in 2021 and Palestine in 2024 to Doha, including women and children, ensuring access to food, health, and education services.He added that the NHRC has also organized events focusing on the rights of women and children in conflict zones, particularly Palestine, such as the 2024 International Conference on Food Justice from a Human Rights Perspective and the regional seminar on protecting the rights of older persons in conflict zones, including Palestine, in 2024.Additionally, the NHRC participated in two exhibitions on the sidelines of the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva: "Human Rights in Islamic Culture" and "Human Rights and Sports," attended by HE Minister of Social Development and Family Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad and HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Office in Geneva Dr. Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah along with a host of representatives of diplomatic missions in Geneva.Dr. Al Kuwari further elaborated on NHRC's participation with paintings in two art exhibitions. The first exhibition featured Arabic calligraphy artworks on "Human Rights in Islamic Culture," which included creative depictions of Quranic verses and Prophetic Hadiths that modern human rights principles align with. He emphasized that Islamic law embraced human rights concepts over 1,400 years ago, long before the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Since 2009, this exhibition has been showcased in numerous European and Arab capitals, including Paris, Madrid, Berlin, Athens, Brussels (at the European Parliament), Washington D.C., Tunis, and Kuwait, as well as at the UN headquarters in New York and Geneva.The second exhibition, titled "Human Rights in Sports," was launched by the NHRC before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the UN in Geneva. It was also displayed in Algeria and organized at the Sheraton Park in Doha during the World Cup. This exhibition aimed to promote human rights values during sports events, advocate for tolerance, reject violence, racism, and hate speech in sports, and highlight the importance of inclusivity for persons with disabilities and the elderly in accessing sports venues.