Doha: HE Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah met with HE United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. The meeting focused on topics of mutual interest and explored ways to enhance cooperation between the NHRC and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
According to Qatar News Agency, Al Attiyah expressed the NHRC's readiness to develop joint initiatives with the OHCHR, aligning with international priorities and shared aspirations. She emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation with regional human rights institutions to bolster collective action and strengthen the protection system at the regional level.
Her Excellency highlighted the ongoing collaboration with the UN Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region, noting its role, alongside the NHRC, in building human rights capacities of government-sector employees and civil society institutions in Qatar. The NHRC and the UN centre have organized joint training courses for ministry employees and civil society institutions, with the centre participating in NHRC-organized events.
Al Attiyah noted legislative reforms in Qatar, emphasizing equality in political rights among citizens. She mentioned the issuance of Law No. (22) of 2025 regarding Persons with Disabilities as a significant legislative development, aligning national legislation with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Work is underway to adopt a child law, representing a leap in protecting children's rights in care, education, and protection from violence and exploitation. These laws reflect Qatar's commitment to enhancing protection for groups most in need of support and care.
Al Attiyah stressed the priority of safeguarding migrant workers' rights, noting Qatar's progress in labor system reforms in cooperation with the International Labour Organization. Reforms include abolishing the kafala system, implementing a minimum wage, and improving grievance mechanisms, demonstrating a commitment to protecting migrant workers' rights.
Regarding women's rights, Al Attiyah affirmed the NHRC's support for women's rights in all fields and enhancing their participation in public life and decision-making, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and international conventions. She noted women's empowerment in the judiciary and public prosecution, armed forces, and civil aviation, with female graduates outnumbering male graduates in higher education.
Her Excellency highlighted the NHRC's focus on developing community awareness and enhancing national human rights entities' capacities. The NHRC's action plan includes reaching thousands through awareness campaigns, including a heat-stress awareness campaign for worker health protection.
Al Attiyah reaffirmed the NHRC's role as an active UN system partner through preparing and submitting shadow reports to treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review mechanism. She emphasized efforts to enhance cooperation with the High Commissioner's Office in building national capacities for report preparation and implementing international recommendations.
The NHRC, in cooperation with the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions, is working with the OHCHR's Middle East and North Africa Section to launch training programs for Syrian personnel, aiming at capacity building and support for establishing the Syrian national human rights institution.