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| HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kyung-Wha Kang, and Sheikh Khalid bin Jassim al-Thani at yesterday’s meeting |
Qatar will actively participate in supporting the efforts of the international community to promote and protect human rights for the benefit of humanity, HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, said yesterday.
Addressing the two-day meeting of the annual consultations between the government of Qatar and the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which began here yesterday, the minister said Qatar attaches great importance to strengthening and developing relations with the UN High Commissioner Office for Human Rights, adding that the Qatari government believes that annual consultative meetings provide a positive environment in supporting these relationships.
“Strengthening bilateral relations with the UN High Commissioner Office is in line with Qatar’s reform policy and strategy for supporting and protecting human rights adopted by the government since HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani assumed power in the country”, al-Attiyah stressed.
Qatar’s hosting of the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region contributes to enhancing co-operation frameworks, he added.
He also hailed the vital role played by the UN High Commissioner Office in the light of political changes in the region.
Dr al-Attiyah reiterated Qatar’s continued support for the activities and programmes of the centre so as to communicate its messages effectively and successfully as well as to achieve its goals.
The minister welcomed UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-Wha Kang to Qatar, pointing out that this was her second visit to Doha. The first visit was culminated in the signing of the headquarters agreement between the government of Qatar and the UN High Commissioner Office on Qatar’s hosting the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region.
UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-Wha Kang said yesterday’s meeting is a continuation of an earlier meeting held in Geneva last May during which many issues in supporting workflow were discussed.
Kang praised Qatar’s support for the efforts of the UN High Commissioner Office and the country’s active role in the Human Rights Council. She also praised Qatar’s hosting of the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre.
She noted the achievements made by the UN Centre for Training and Documentation since its opening, saying that the centre was able to achieve its commitments, particularly in light of the recent changes in the Arab World.
She said the Commission has opened an office in Tunisia, and soon will open an office in Cairo.
The Qatari side is chaired by the director of Human Rights Office at the Foreign Ministry Sheikh Khalid bin Jassim al-Thani, while the Commission is chaired by Kyung-Wha Kang.
