NHRC Says it Took Measures to Prevent Violations by Companies During COVID-19 Pandemic

Doha, November 17 (QNA) - HE Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri stressed Tuesday that the committee took wide-ranging measures required to prevent any human rights violations by companies during the Coronavirus (COVID-19). His Excellency was participating in a panel discussion held online under the title of "Preventing business-related human rights abuses in Asia Pacific: Actors and actions." The panel discussion is part of the Annual Forum on Business and Human Rights, taking place from Nov. 16-18. Al Marri noted that following the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, the NHRC implemented a non-judicial mechanism to receive complaints and regain rights lost during the crisis. His Excellency noted that the committee launched a hotline and offered legal advice, while also communicating with governmental and non-governmental bodies to address challenges and help people with grievances. His Excellency noted that the committee received a number of complaints that were an outcome of the pandemic-related closures. HE the Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee that the NHRC addressed HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, HE Minister of Health, HE Minister of Administrative Development, Labor, and Social Affairs, to ensure that the measures taken to contain COVID-19 were in line with basic human rights. The committee also released a statement on April 6 of 2020 on the measures taken to contain the virus, calling for consolidating efforts to respect human rights without discrimination. (QNA)