The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) organised a seminar Tuesday to raise awareness about the Central Municipal Council elections, scheduled for June 22, with the participation of a group of officials, candidates and former members.
HE the Vice-Chairman of the NHRC, Dr Mohamed bin Saif al-Kuwari, said in a paper he presented on constitutional and international standards for the right to run for office, that the right to run for office is a right guaranteed under the provisions of the permanent constitution of Qatar in 2004, as enshrined in international and regional human rights charters to which Qatar has become a party. It is the right that expresses the general will of the Qatari people, which enables them to assume tasks and responsibilities related to the management of public affairs in accordance with the principle of universal suffrage.
Al-Kuwari explained that the law guarantees that the elections take place over time periods to ensure that the municipal council expresses the will and demands of the voters in a sustainable manner, to ensure the widest participation possible.
For his part, HE the Secretary-General of the NHRC, Sultan bin Hassan al-Jamali, said that the symposium aims to raise awareness of the importance of the right to vote and run for office, and the implementation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
Assistant Director of the Human Rights Department Lt. Col. Saad Salem al-Dosari said that the department presented a paper on the rights and duties of candidates, with the goal of raising awareness on the importance of elections and encouraging citizens to vote.
Al-Dosari indicated the role of the candidates' awareness in promoting the culture of electoral participation among citizens and encouraging them to carry out this responsibility towards the Qatari society.
He noted that participation in the elections of the Central Municipal Council represents a responsible and conscious practice that reflects the essence of democracy, which means enabling citizens to participate in decision-making and drawing up public policies related to the present and future of the national group, stressing that participation in the electoral process is a national right and duty, and that Qatari people must take the initiative to cast their votes and participate in the elections of the Central Municipal Council in its seventh session on the June 22.
Captain Saleh Jassim al-Muhammadi, a member of the Legal Committee for the Central Municipal Council elections, explained the legal controls and conditions regarding the electoral campaigns of the candidates and their compatibility with international standards and relevant best practices.
