The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) celebrated the Qatar Human Rights Day, which falls on November 11 annually, with the celebration coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of NHRC.

The celebration program included the launch of the committee's new website, after a makeover, enabling all members of society to benefit from the platform's various services.

HE NHRC Chairperson Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah said in a speech on this occasion that the committee commemorates 20 years since its founding in 2002, whilst at the same time, rendering this day the Qatar National Day for Human Rights, an event constituting a milestone in the contemporary history of the State of Qatar. Al Attiyah noted that the celebration also coincides with Qatar's hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in a few days, being the most prominent global sporting event historically, and the first of its kind in the Arab and Islamic regions, and by its human nature, an occasion to renew a firm commitment to human rights, their universality and inclusivity, as pillars for world of peace, development, tolerance, respect for diversity and difference and acceptance of otherness. This occasion highlights the region's positive role in civilized communication and human interaction, changing the stereotyped image of the region.

Her Excellency noted that NHRC views this celebration as an opportunity to review the tangible progress made in the field of human rights protection in Qatar, measuring the magnitude of challenges, and setting goals, pointing out that the NHRC constituted an important force of proposal, especially with regard to the protection of human rights of expatriate workers that have witnessed major improvements over the past years.

HE NHRC Chairperson stressed that the Committee's relentless adherence to the Paris Principles was a major reason behind strengthening its role and position nationally and globally, and was a guiding beacon to the human rights achievements that were achieved as a national demand on the path to completing the building of the state of law and institutions, given that the ideal goal was and still is to empower Qatar, as a state and as a society, is able to accumulate more gains that reach the highest human rights standards.

In her speech, HE Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah also confirmed that NHRC was able to make human rights a national culture and a daily practice for individuals and institutions alike, saying that in observance of this global sporting event, with what it represents of human dignity, diversity and solidarity, she condemns the malicious smear campaigns against the State of Qatar with the approaching launch of the World Cup, which will not affect Qatar's firm will to preserve human rights, holding on to the approach of positive openness and serious dialogue, and prevent the misuse of the noble cause of human rights based on allegations that are not true and lack standards of seriousness and credibility.

She also stressed NHRC's keenness to protect workers' rights in the State of Qatar as partners in development and decent living, based on international human rights standards regardless of Qatar's hosting of the tournament, stressing that these standards are at the core of Islamic culture which believes in the principle of human brotherhood as a supreme value.

Her Excellency noted that on the anniversary of Qatar Human Rights Day, and on the occasion of NHRC's celebration of its 20th anniversary, NHRC launched the committee's new website.

To reach all segments of society by harnessing technology to improve the services it provides, considering the new website an important platform for communication and rapid response with World Cup fans, noting the committee's continuous aspiration to keep pace with the best technical developments through this electronic window to access information, and to be an educational platform and a base comprehensive data on human rights in the State of Qatar, as well as enabling all interested and stakeholders to view the activity, production, work mechanisms and reports of the various types of the committee, develop mechanisms for receiving complaints, and enhance interactive communication regarding inquiries, observations and suggestions within the framework of ensuring continuous work and ensuring the application of best practices Jurist.

In turn, HE NHRC Secretary-General Sultan bin Hassan Al Jamali stressed that the committee's celebration of the Qatar Human Rights Day is an opportunity to review annually the most prominent achievements and the most important challenges on this day that witnessed the establishment of the Committee, describing this year's celebration as exceptional because it coincided with hosting the State of Qatar for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which will start next week.

Al Jamali added in a speech during the celebration that the question that arises at this time is what has NHRC achieved in terms of preparations to receive a global audience whose culture, customs and traditions differ, saying in the same context, that NHRC has been preparing since February 2021, by signing a memorandum of cooperation with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) to enhance cooperation, with the aim of raising individuals' and societies' awareness about human rights issues, and ensuring that all aspects related to human rights are included in the World Cup projects hosted by Qatar, the Arab world and the Middle East for the first time.

Al Jamali noted that the NHRC has been developing its human rights tools in conjunction with the development of digital knowledge and digital content technologies, in response to the scientific and technical developments taking place in the world of artificial intelligence and its electronic applications, pointing out that electronic applications have become, during the past years, part of the human rights system. Their importance emerged in particular during the COVID-19 pandemic response, which changed daily ways of life, and imposed a lifestyle based on the concept of remote work in all different areas of life, noting that the NHRC felt the need to develop its electronic platforms in response to digital developments, in addition to the need to develop its information portal in order to provide data and information to the public and inform it of its various activities and events.