Qatar stresses enhancing rights of the disabled

QNA/GenevaThe State of Qatar has stressed the importance of inclusion of issues concerning persons with disability as an integral part of sustainable development strategies. The remarks were made during a discussion of Qatar’s initial report by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on its implementation of the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, within the framework of 14th session held in Geneva from 17 August - 4 September 2015. Qatar’s official delegation to the session was led by director of the elderly and persons with disabilities department, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Najat Adham al-Abdalla with representatives of government circles and state institutions along with ambassador Faisal bin Abdullah al-Henzab, Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva. They discussed legislative, judicial and administrative procedures on implementation of the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities ratified by the state in 2008. In her keynote speech at the event, al-Abdalla said that persons with disabilities will enjoy independence to determine their own choices and have the opportunity to participate actively in the decision-making processes on policies and programmes that concerned them directly. She expressed Qatar’s appreciation over efforts being made by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in assisting States parties to improve , strengthen and enhance its obligations and application provisions of the convention. In this regard, the Qatari official affirmed Qatar’s support and full co-operation with the committee, which is reflected in the formation of Qatar’s official delegation comprising representatives from concerned government agencies and civil society organisations. Al-Abdalla said Qatar’s interest in the subject of disability has emerged in UN forums related to the appointment of Sheikha Hessa al-Thani as Special Rapporteur on disability of the commission for social development in June 2003, after ratification of the convention in 2008 and the election the State of Qatar represented by Dr Amna al-Suwaidi among the first members of Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The annual resolution of the Council of Human Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities included a proposal of the state to conduct the next annual interactive dialogue on the rights of persons with disabilities on Article 11 of the convention, “Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies”. The head of Qatar’s delegation pointed to the legislative measures adopted by the state in order to implement the purpose of the convention, to promote and protect all persons with disabilities and their human rights and fundamental freedoms and to promote respect for their dignity. Al-Abdalla praised the role played by the concerned organisations in order to promote the rights of persons with disabilities, including the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar and Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs through co-ordination with state institutions on implementation of legislation and policies relating to persons with disabilities, organisation of seminars and workshops and taking serious steps to maintain the rights of persons with disabilities. Al-Abdalla affirmed Qatar’s keenness to co-operate with international bodies concerned with human rights, in particular the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in order to reach a desirable objective - a guarantee that all persons with disabilities enjoy all rights and freedoms set forth in all international instruments fully and without discrimination.