HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani on Monday called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to end the violations resulting from the illegal siege and unilateral coercive measures taken by the siege countries against the Qatari people, and to hold accountable those responsible for the violations while compensating the victims.
Speaking yesterday during the high-level segment of the 37th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, HE Sheikh Mohamed also stressed the need for the international community to reach a political settlement for the Syrian crisis and provide humanitarian assistance to the people there in order to meet the urgent needs, stressing that Qatar would spare no effort in providing assistance.
HE the Foreign Minister said he had briefed the council during its previous session on the repercussions and violations of human rights due to the illegal and unilateral coercive measures taken by the siege countries against the Qatari people.
"This was reaffirmed in the last report of the technical mission of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights after visiting Qatar in November (2017)," HE Sheikh Mohamed said. "It included an objective description of the grave and flagrant violations of human rights by the siege countries against the citizens and residents, be it in Qatar or in their own countries, and this continues to this very day.
"Stemming from the just legal position of Qatar and to protect its legitimate rights, I call from this rostrum - the Human Rights Council and all its mechanisms, especially special procedures - to shoulder their responsibilities and to work on putting an end to the violation of human rights as a result of these racist unilateral coercive measures. Those who are responsible must be held accountable and victims must be compensated.
"It is very strange that the countries that have imposed these unilateral measures on my country are states that are co-sponsors of the Human Rights Council resolution on human rights and unilateral coercive measures. Some are members of this council."
He noted that this "strange behaviour" in dealing with the resolutions of this council shows grave contradiction between the convictions of these states and their positions in the council on the other hand.
"This undermines the credibility of these countries and also undermines the work of the council itself. We must work on saving the reputation and credibility of this council," HE added.
HE the Foreign Minister affirmed that the protection and promotion of human rights are at the top of Qatar's priorities. He pointed out that Qatar continues its efforts in this regard at the institutional and legislative levels to implement its National Vision 2030.
HE noted that Qatar has made great strides, achieved many of the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development goals, and occupied a leading position, at a regional level, in recent human development reports.
He said the country is currently preparing the legislative tools necessary for Shura Council elections within the framework of promoting popular participation.
He pointed out that the legislative and service structure witnessed significant developments to provide a decent livelihood for the guests of Qatar who are participating in its renaissance, pointing out that about 2.4mn workers have benefited from the Wage Protection System according to statistics for October 2017.
Further, HE Sheikh Mohamed said State of Qatar is currently planning to adopt the National Plan for Human Rights, noting that its adoption will be in accordance with international standards.
HE Sheikh Mohamed also expressed regret over the grave and flagrant violations of human rights in many regions of the world despite the increasing global interest in protecting these rights.
He described what the Syrian people in Eastern Ghouta are exposed to by the current regime with the whole world witnessing as a stain on humanity and reveals the extent to which this regime is indifferent to international law and international humanitarian law in addition to the brutality of barbaric practices where human rights are violated.
HE the Foreign Minister pointed out that the UN mechanisms for international peace and security had failed to do their part to protect the rights of the Syrian people.
Further, HE Sheikh Mohamed stressed the need for the international community, especially the Security Council, to shoulder its legal and moral responsibilities and to abandon selectivity in order to reach a political settlement for the Syrian crisis in accordance with the Geneva I statement to achieve the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people for freedom, justice and dignity.
He called on the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people in order to meet the urgent needs, stressing that Qatar will spare no effort in providing assistance.
He also called on the international community to strive to protect the rights of the Palestinian people and realise the two-state solution agreed by the international community in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy, the Arab Peace Initiative and other international references, in addition to ending the occupation and establishing the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
HE Sheikh Mohamed called on all Yemeni parties to engage positively towards achieving genuine national reconciliation that would end the ongoing conflict and put an end to the suffering and gross violations of the rights of Yemeni people.
