The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding on co-operation with the High Commissioner for Human Rights of Russia.

NHRC president HE Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri and Russian Commissioner for Human Rights Tatyana Moskalkova signed the memorandum via video conference. The memorandum aims to enhance co-operation in protecting human rights.

It also aims to strengthen the close relations between the two parties in the areas of disseminating and protecting the culture of human rights, as well as co-operating on the development of the human rights system, strategies and action plans of each side, in addition to the benefit from the exchange of technical expertise.

The memorandum stipulated that the co-operation between the two sides includes the exchange of expertise and information related to complaints procedures and any other activities of the two parties, including any information on legislative activities, and any important decisions issued by each country in accordance with their national regulations, in addition to mutual reporting and assistance in cases of violation of human rights and freedoms of Russian citizens in Qatar or of Qatari citizens in Russia, if they occur.

Co-operation also includes a provision on mutual assistance in the promotion and protection of the human rights and freedoms of citizens of both parties, within the limits of their powers. It also includes provisions on invitations to conferences, workshops, meetings and other activities within the scope of the promotion and protection of human rights, and any other topics related to the powers of the national human rights institutions organised by the two parties.

Dr al-Marri and Moskalovka both gave a brief overview on their respective organisations and their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic, during the signing of the memorandum.