Al-Marri Calls for Development of Discussions and Good Practices to Improve Human Rights

Geneva, September 20 (QNA) - HE the Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri has welcomed the recommendations received by the State of Qatar at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) submitted during the current United Nations Human Rights Council's 27th session in Geneva. Addressing the session, Dr. Al-Marri said that the State of Qatar has received 84 recommendations, ''and I would like to emphasize that the Committee welcomes the recommendations which directly address the area of its work, namely the recommendations that urged the state to continue its efforts to improve national mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights and the dissemination of awareness, education and training, particularly of public service staff and law enforcement employees, along with recommendations that touched on the need for legislative and institutional development, including the support and the establishment of institutions concerned with human rights issues." Commenting on the Universal Periodic Review of the State of Qatar, Al-Marri said remarkable in the report of the Working Group was the presence of 28 recommendations dealing with enhancing the status of women in society in topics related to equality, violence prevention and economic, political, civil and social rights, explaining the National Human Rights Committee, since its inception, filed the state's recommendations on women's rights, "and we hope that those recommendations would see the light before the next review in 2017." The NCHR Chairman meanwhile reviewed many challenges facing the protection of workers' rights, saying in this regard that despite of the state's abundant efforts in the field of protection of workers' rights, there are many challenges facing this category, such as construction workers, including failure to get their dues in a number of companies, especially small construction companies, which are often run by non-Qataris. He added that there are legislative changes to come, such as: the abolition of the sponsorship system and its replacement by employment contracts, in addition to the development of the inspection system and the striking of a balance in work relationship to ensure the rights of both parties, workers and employers. Dr. Al-Marri underlined the need for awareness among all concerned parties in the State of Qatar, that the responsibility for the protection and promotion of human rights is not the responsibility of government organizations only, and said in this context, "the development of civil society is a requirement for building a society capable of building dialogue, self-confidence and the development of social formations" . He called for the importance of promoting discussions and good practices to promote human rights. Concluding, Dr. Al-Marri thanked the Qatari government for its unlimited openness for cooperation with the international mechanisms of human rights especially its open call 2010 for all United Nations rapporteurs. He also thanked the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review for its big effort, as well as all the countries that have shown their recommendations in a spirit of responsibility and devotion to the principles of human rights.(QNA)