DOHA: The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) has launched its strategic plan (2024-2030), on the occasion of Qatar Human Rights Day under the slogan (Human Rights .. A Sustainable Force towards a Better Future), which falls on November 11 of each year.
On this occasion, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) HE Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah said that the interest in approving Qatar Human Rights Day embodies an aspect of the State's interest and keenness to ensure respect for human rights as a fixed strategic option and a fundamental pillar of the sound management of the state of institutions and the rule of law, and an indicator of the advancement and civilization of societies.
She explained during her speech at the inaugural ceremony that approving this occasion on November 11 of each year, which coincides with the date of the establishment of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), reflects the State's appreciation for the role of the committee in contributing effectively to promoting and protecting human rights at the national level, and supporting the human rights position of the State of Qatar in international and regional forums.
She noted that the celebration of Qatari Human Rights Day this year is of particular importance given that it coincides with the general referendum on the draft constitutional amendments, as these amendments were coupled with the blessing of all Qatari citizens, based on their convictions of their positive impact in promoting the values of equal citizenship, strengthening national cohesion and social fabric and supporting comprehensive development.
She added the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) has become a center of influence and a model to be emulated in the work of national human rights institutions, in the Gulf, Arab and international arenas, given its achievements and best practices, in addition to its commitment to the principles of independence, transparency and pluralism. It has become eligible to obtain accreditation level (A) from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions for three consecutive sessions from 2010, 2015, 2020, and until 2025.
She pointed out that the NHRC's performance would not have risen to this high position had it not been guided by the principles of modern management and strategic planning, which essentially means (predicting the future) and preparing for it with calculated steps away from spontaneity, coincidence and immediacy.
This explains the committee's adoption of its first plan 2011-2014 and its second plan 2018-2022.She stressed that the NHRC continues its work on this approach by preparing its third strategic plan 2024-2030, through which the committee has drawn promising horizons for qualitative performance, based on results, through what it has identified in terms of strategic and operational objectives and executive activities full of a wide range of multi-faceted programs, projects and initiatives, whether legal, advisory, cultural, social, or supervisory, or at the level of protecting the rights of priority groups and affected persons, or those related to partnerships and support for civil society organizations.
She noted that among these goals is the development of institutional and individual performance in the committee itself or others, reinforced by clear performance indicators in a context that positions the committee as a force for proposal, development, monitoring and evaluation, supporting and complementing the national effort in the field of human rights, keeping pace with the changes and developments in human rights at the local, regional and international levels.
She added that the third strategic plan will provide the NHRC with many opportunities and benefits, perhaps the most prominent of which is: achieving an opportunity to mobilize, attract and coordinate roles and functions in the committee in a way that makes it a stronger force and more effective in implementing its programs and achieving its goals. She explained in the same context that the plan facilitates the dealings of the concerned parties inside and outside the country with the committee, including civil society organizations, stakeholders and relevant governmental institutions, as well as international organizations concerned with human rights (UN and non-governmental), given the clarity of the vision of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) and its work philosophy.
On the other hand, Vice-Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee Dr Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari, said that the National Human Rights Committee's strategic plan 2024-2030 relied on more than 250 references documented from national legislation such as the Qatari Constitution, legislation and laws, and other Arab charters related to human rights such as the Arab Charter on Human Rights, in addition to regional charters such as the Asian, Pacific, African and European charters, as well as Latin American and others.
He explained in statements to the Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the NHRC relied on all these references, in addition to international standards such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Civil, Political, Cultural, Social and Economic Human Rights, and specialized charters on human rights, for women and children, persons with disabilities, workers' rights and other such charters.
He noted that the strategic plan of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) 2024-2030 was based on seven objectives and three main axes.
The first axis is to align current and future Qatari legislation and laws with international human rights standards, which has been achieved recently, as we have witnessed a change in many legal texts and workers' rights regulations based on international human rights standards.
He added that the second axis of the strategy lies in spreading the culture of human rights on the widest scale, which requires holding many workshops and seminars, explaining that the NHRC has held many conferences that discussed many files, including conflicts, climate change, and the rights of the elderly.
Al Kuwari said at the end of his statements to QNA that the third axis of the strategy is related to strengthening regional, Arab, and international cooperation with human rights organizations, with the aim of exchanging information, data, systems, modern means, and successful experiences, noting that the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar is an example to be followed in providing means of cooperation and exchanging successful experiences that have been presented, whether in conferences or discussing some challenges and coming up with recommendations, publishing them, and following up on them, and other such means.
During the celebration of Qatar Human Rights Day, the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) honouredDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs HE Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, as the first chairman of the NHRC since its inception in 2003 until 2009.
It also honored Minister of Labor HE Dr Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, the second chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) from 2009 to 2021, for the human rights initiatives and achievements they have presented and achieved during their career at the national, regional and international levels.
The guiding principles of the National Human Rights Committee's strategic plan (2024-2030) are related to realism, effectiveness, participation, alignment with general policies and strategies, consideration of privacy and cultural diversity, integration and comprehensiveness.
The strategic objectives of the plan were related to contributing to establishing a legislative environment compatible with international human rights standards, enhancing human rights protection mechanisms within the framework of the committee's work, developing the advisory aspect of the committee's work, spreading the culture of human rights as widely as possible, consolidating Arab, regional and international cooperation, and partnerships at the national level in the field of human rights, supporting civil society institutions and building their capacities in the field of human rights, and developing the institutional and individual performance of the committee.
The strategic plan also included several axes, namely: the legal axis, the human rights protection axis, the awareness axis, the advisory axis, the regional and international cooperation axis, the axis related to civil society organizations, and the institutional and individual development axis.
