NHRC Chairperson Discusses Goals of Climate Changes, Human Rights Conference with Guests 

 

 

Doha, February 22 (QNA) - HE Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah held a series of separate meetings with prominent figures participating in the International Conference on Climate Changes and Human Rights organized by the NHRC in cooperation with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, the Arab League and the UN Development Program during the period from Feb. 21-22.

In her meeting with Chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Mikiko Otani, Al Attiyah presented the role of the NHRC in the State of Qatar by urging the issuance of the Child Law. She stressed that Qatar, in turn, is studying the rights of the child as stated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, noting that the NHRC submits its recommendations and comments to the competent authority in this regard.

In another meeting, Al Attiyah congratulated HE Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Larbi Djacta on his election as Chair of the International Civil Service Commission of the United Nations, a commission responsible for organizing and coordinating conditions of service for staff of the United Nations common system. The meeting dealt with the role of the Civil Service Commission and the challenges it faces. The two sides stressed the importance of exchanging best practices achieved by the Human Resources Department in the NHRC.

In a meeting with HE Chairman of the Oman Human Rights Commission Abdullah Al Hosni, the two sides stressed the importance of exchanging experiences and activating cooperation mechanisms in all areas of protection and promotion of human rights in the region.

HE Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah met with HE UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders Michel Forst. During the meeting, Al Attiyah stressed the importance of the position of the Special Rapporteur for the implementation of the Aarhus Convention. Al Attiyah said that the powers granted to the rapporteur are something that should be followed by all human rights defenders.

Al Attiyah raised a number of questions about the possibility of issuing the report of the rapporteur on environmental defenders this year or next year, in addition to the number of complaints from environmental rights defenders around the world, and the role of the International Conference on Climate Change and Human Rights and its expected recommendations in addressing the effects of climate change.

Al Attiyah also met with HE Chief of the Middle East and North Africa Section of the High Commissioner Mohammed Alnsour. The meeting discussed the dates for submission of national reports to countries in general and shadow reports and the role of national human rights institutions in submitting shadow reports, and the need to notify them of the date and time specified for their submission.

Meanwhile, Al Attiyah met with HE Chairman of the African Network of National Human Rights Institutions, Chairman of the Human Rights Commission in Zimbabwe Dr. Elasto Hilarious Mugwadi. Al Attiyah also met with HE president of the American network of national human rights institutions and president of the national institution for human rights in El Salvador Raquel Caballero de Guevara. During the two separate meetings, they discussed the challenges facing human rights in the two networks. She suggested setting up a program of cooperation and raising the capabilities of the members of the two networks regarding the application of indicators and measuring impact in both sides, in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. (QNA)