National Day/ Chairperson of NHRC to QNA: QND Celebrations Come Amid Unprecedented Global Momentum

Doha, December 17 (QNA) - HE the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiya pointed out that the celebration of the National Day this year comes amid unprecedented global momentum, as it coincides with the success of the State of Qatar in organizing the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. In statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the occasion of the National Day, HE said that this year's National Day slogan 'Our Unity is the Source of Our Strength,' is in harmony with the historic organization of the global football event, which is being held for the first time in the Arab world and the Middle East region, noting that the Qatari people were keen to acquaint the guests and visitors of Qatar with the Qatari culture and its authentic customs and traditions. She added that the Qatari people implemented on the ground the concept of unity that appeared in the slogan of the National Day, which was a quote from the speech of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani. The State of Qatar appeared before the whole world with this unity which was an invincible force that enabled it to present an exceptional tournament despite the challenges and obstacles that faced Doha since the first moment of its selection to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, she said, noting that the cohesion of the Qatari people with all its components behind their wise leadership, and the success of Qatar’s efforts in organizing the tournament was the most eloquent response to the desperate smear campaigns to falsify facts and mislead global public opinions. She stressed that the National Human Rights Committee considers the National Day a true expression of unity and societal cohesion, and contributes in promoting the values of belonging to this land and loyalty to the wise leadership, which sought to consolidate the concepts of national unity and social cohesion, noting that the Committee was an authentic partner in protecting social fabric over the years. On the achievements of the National Human Rights Committee, HE confirmed that the Committee recently, in conjunction with the State of Qatar hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, opened an office at Hamad International Airport to provide educational, advisory and legal services to the fans of the tournament, in addition to the launch of a new version of the website in line with the development witnessed by the Committee. She also commended the Committee's commitment to issuing annual reports that monitor human rights practices in Qatar with complete transparency. She noted that the Committee has achieved, during the past twenty years, a tremendous amount of capacity building by training hundreds of government employees on the principles and basics of human rights, adding that it has been able to promote a culture of human rights in Qatar through dozens of local, regional and international conferences and forums that it has organized over the past years. Additionally, it expanded at the global level with steady steps in dealing with international organizations and human rights institutions. HE the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee added, in her statements to QNA, that the Committee chaired the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions, noting that the Committee's classification was renewed at Grade A until 2025, which is the highest classification achieved by a national institution. She explained that the Committee has been maintaining it since 2010, as institutions are accredited according to the international standards every 5 years, which means that the Committee has been accredited three times, in accordance with the commitment to the Paris Principles -Principles Relating to the Status of National Human Rights Institutions- the most important of which are financial and administrative independence, transparency and submitting annual reports on the human rights situation at the national level. In terms of international participation, HE the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiya explained that the Committee participates and cooperates with international organizations, especially with Amnesty International and other international organizations concerned with human rights, based on the Paris Principles, which are the legal reference for establishing national human rights institutions, and in implementation of the provisions of Decree No. 17 of 2010 regarding the organization of the National Human Rights Committee. HE concluded by pointing out that one of the tasks of national human rights institutions is to communicate and cooperate with the United Nations, including the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, the United Nations Human Rights Treaty System and other international organizations, as well as coordinate with regional groups, stressing that the National Human Rights Committee has worked since its inception to cooperate with international and regional mechanisms, and looks forward to playing a growing role in the process of protecting and promoting human rights. (QNA)