Small Group of National Human Rights Action Plan Committee's Meetings Continue
Doha / Information Office / March 09
The consultative meetings of the small group of the National Human Rights Action Plan Committee concerned with preparing the national human rights action plan continued to consult with the various stakeholders in Qatar regarding the proposed strategic goals of the national human rights action plan.
The Monday's meeting, which was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, dealt with the two strategic goals of the national human rights action plan for the promotion and protection of human rights and those related to strengthening capabilities and spreading the culture of human rights. The meetings will continue until Wednesday.
HE Assistant Director of the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Youssef Jassim Al-Thani chaired the meeting.
In an opening speech, His Excellency said that the decision of the esteemed Cabinet in its ninth regular meeting of 2017 to form a committee to prepare a national action plan headed by HE Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ahmed Hassan Al Hammadi and the membership of several governmental and non-governmental agencies comes within the framework of the increasing attention that the State gives to the issue of the promotion and protection of human rights, which represents a strategic choice for the State and forms the backbone of its comprehensive reform policy.
He pointed out that the State of Qatar's involvement in preparing a national human rights action plan confirms its commitment to international covenants on human rights, indicating that the plan aims to promote and protect human rights at the national level.
His Excellency stressed that human development and the protection and promotion of human rights are among the top priorities of the State of Qatar.
He said that the consultative meeting related to the two strategic objectives of the national action plan for the promotion and protection of human rights and those related to strengthening capabilities and spreading a culture of human rights comes within the framework of seeking the views and observations of the concerned parties to implement the strategic goals of the plan.
He added that the consultations emphasize the principle of participation and complementarity in preparing the national plan, as well as respecting the opinion of the State and society sectors regarding the measures, policies or plans required to achieve the strategic and operational goals of the plan. He described these sectors as those who have a real interest in implementing the plan and are part of the concerned parties for implementation at the same time.
His Excellency gave an explanation of what was presented during the first consultative meeting that was held on March 4 on the first strategic goal related to establishing a legislative environment consistent with international human rights standards.
He added that the program of the consultative meeting on Monday includes two presentations on the national human rights action plan and the committee concerned with preparing the plan presented by Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Tayeb, along with a third presentation on strengthening national capacities in the field of human rights and spreading the culture of human rights presented by Dr. Osama Alyosi.
His Excellency thanked the various relevant authorities in the country for the proposals made on the second and third strategic goals.