DOHA: The third edition of the National Human Rights Forum kicked off on Tuesday. It is organised by the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the Ministry of Social Development and Family, and the National Cyber Security Agency.
This year, the forum is held under the theme of protecting children's rights in a safe digital environment, with a focus on the challenges and prospects for empowerment and protection. The forum is held in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. The event saw the participation of over 600 officials, experts, specialists, and students from universities and schools.
The opening session was attended by Chairperson of the NHRC HE Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah and Chairperson of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, Minister of Transport HE Jassim bin Saif bin Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Minister of Municipality HE Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs HE Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi, Minister of Social Development and Family HE Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council HE Dr Hamda bint Hassan Al Sulaiti, and other officials from various state institutions.
The two-day forum aims to create a platform for national dialogue among ministries, public institutions, civil society, parents, and children on the latest developments and challenges related to children's rights in the digital environment.
It seeks to provide insights into enhancing legislation, public policies, administrative measures, procedures, and practices related to the prevention, empowerment, and protection of children in the digital space based on a human rights approach. It also seeks to examine best practices within the country and internationally, promoting measures related to protecting children's rights in the digital space.
Additionally, the forum aims to empower children with their right to a safe digital environment while considering Islamic values and national identity, alongside raising awareness of the importance of providing children access to the digital world while protecting them from potential risks.
