Cabinet for full freedom to human rights body

Dr. Ali bin Smaikh al- Marri: Qatar’s membership of the Human Rights Council reflects the UN’s confidence in efforts made by Qatar on human rights.

Doha

The Cabinet yesterday approved a draft law that gave the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) “full independence” in exercising its mandate. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud said the Cabinet made a number of decisions including the approval of a draft law amending several provisions of Law No. 17 of 2001 that regulates the NHRC. One of the major provisions in the draft law has bestowed special privileges on the committee members making them immune from legal action for views expressed by them. Qatar News Agency (QNA) quoting HE al-Mahmoud said: “According to the draft law, NHRC enjoys full independence in exercising its activities related to human rights and no committee member shall be held criminally or disciplinarily accountable for opinions or statements shown before the committee and its subcommittees in respect of matters within its competence.” HE Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani chaired the cabinet meeting that was held at the Emiri Diwan. At the international level, the NHRC has been accredited by several bodies including the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights (ICC). Qatar was elected as a member of the Human Rights Council (HRC) for a three-year period from 2015-2017, at a vote at the UN General Assembly on October 21. The NHRC chairman Dr. Ali bin Smaikh al- Marri said Qatar’s membership of the Human Rights Council reflected the UN’s confidence in the efforts being made by the country in the field of protection and promotion of human rights. In a statement to QNA , Dr al- Marri said the winning reflected the confidence of the international organisation and the international community in Qatar "and its sincere efforts to promote, protect and respect human rights and disseminate its culture at local, regional and international levels". He congratulated Qatar on this achievement and stressed that the presence of Qatar as a member of the HRC would enhance its role as a pioneering state in this field. Dr al- Marri met yesterday US Ambassador to Qatar Dana Shell Smith and French Ambassador Eric Chevallier and discussed with them ways to strengthen cooperation on issues of common interest and exchange of expertise and experiences in the field of human rights.