tag

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) and the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law (NCIHL) discussed avenues for enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest and developing mechanisms for coordination and integration between both sides.This came during a meeting hosted by the NHRC at its headquarters in Doha, attended by a delegation from the NCIHL, led by its Vice-Chairman Faisal Mohammed Al Emadi, along with several officials from both entities.The meeting discussed the interrelation between international humanitarian law and human rights approaches, in addition to highlighting the efforts of the NHRC in this field, particularly concerning human rights in armed conflicts and support for vulnerable and marginalised groups.Both sides agreed to sign a joint cooperation agreement following a study of shared priorities and annual projects that could be implemented, contributing to the development of coordination mechanisms.They also agreed to form a joint technical team to draft the agreement, which will result in a clear executive agenda for implementing activities and events related to the protection and promotion of human rights.

An international conference on the protection of journalists in armed conflict zones began in Doha Wednesday.The conference is organised by the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) and Al Jazeera Public Liberties and Human Rights Centre (PLHRC) at Al Jazeera Media Network and in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.Inaugurated by HE NHRC Chairperson Maryam bint Abdullah al-Attiyah, the conference will discuss ways to enhance the protection of journalists and ensure their safety while covering conflicts, and to address the issue of impunity for crimes committed against them, with the participation of international officials, experts, and media professionals.In this context, HE al-Attiyah said that organizing this conference comes within the context of the NHRC closely monitoring the conditions of journalists in areas of armed conflict, in addition to its keenness to follow up on the implementation of the outcomes of the previous conferences, especially the recommendations of the first Doha Declaration, issued by the international conference for the protection of journalists in dangerous situation, held in January 2012.In her opening remarks, she added that while the NHRC is proud to note the reference to this declaration in numerous Human Rights Council resolutions, and welcomed the interpretation of a number of its recommendations into practical action, including the establishment of a unit dedicated to the safety of journalists within the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the NHRC renews its determination through this conference to move forward in enhancing protection and establishing a safe and enabling environment for journalists.HE al-Attiyah emphasized that it is no longer acceptable to limit oneself to mere condemnation. The widening scope of crimes and serious violations against journalists points to the urgent need for broad action involving governments, national human rights institutions, and all stakeholders, along with UN agencies, to activate the rules of international law and implement comprehensive reforms to protection mechanisms. She said that the NHRC declares its commitment to following up on the implementation of the outcomes of this conference, in cooperation with various partners. The issue of protecting journalists will remain a top priority, in support of the truth and redress for victims.HE Director General of Al Jazeera Media Network Sheikh Nasser bin Faisal al-Thani said that while the blood of Al Jazeera journalists in the Gaza Strip has not yet dried in defence of the truth, the profession of journalism is facing tests that threaten its very existence and its humanitarian role.He added that Al Jazeera Media Network has made the protection and safety of its journalists a firm priority, developing specialized training programs for its crews working in conflict zones and ensuring the highest standards of professional safety. However, its correspondents have been targeted simply for carrying out their duties. The number of Al Jazeera martyrs has reached 22 so far, 10 of whom were killed during the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza.Addressing the International Conference on the Protection of Journalists in Armed Conflicts, HE Sheikh Nasser stressed that Al Jazeera Media Network calls for unifying initiatives and strengthening solidarity among media institutions, human rights organizations, and nations to halt the killing of journalists and end the policy of impunity for their murderers.Sheikh Nasser highlighted that Al Jazeera has been driving this cause forward for years, with a key milestone being the launch of the Doha Declaration on the Protection of Journalists in 2016, a document that received the endorsement of the Human Rights Council and Unesco and stands as the first international document propelled by a media institution for adoption within UN frameworks.Unesco Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information Dr. Tawfik Jelassi stated in a recorded broadcast during the opening session that free and independent media are an essential pillar of democracy, yet it is equally crucial to ensure the safety of journalists and media workers while performing their vital role.Journalists around the globe encounter threats, harassment, and censorship, and often lethal violence, while female journalists remain particularly vulnerable to harassment, both online and offline, Dr. Jelassi highlighted.Dr Jelassi emphasised that protecting journalists in conflict zones remains a top priority for Unesco, averring that Unesco has repeatedly condemned the killing of journalists in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Yemen, and other conflict zones, and affirms that journalists are civilians who must be protected under Security Council Resolution 2222.In a recorded intervention, Commissioner at the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) and Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, Ourveena Geereesha Topsy-Sonoo emphasized that journalist protection is central to the African Commission's work, which closely monitors violations against journalists across Africa.The opening session concluded with a moment of silence honouring journalists who lost their lives in conflict zones worldwide, followed by the inauguration of a photo exhibition showcasing journalists' equipment and images of those martyred in Gaza and Iraq.

Her Excellency Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Maryam Bint Abdullah Al Attiyah stressed that the Committee succeeded in building extensive partnerships with various United Nations bodies and mechanisms, which enhances its roles in protecting human rights, strengthens its international presence, and contributes to building more just and peaceful societies.In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the occasion of the commencement of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Her Excellency said that over the past years, the NHRC has been keen to interlink its national, regional, and international relations to reach partnerships that assist in achieving its goals in protecting and promoting human rights.She added that the Committee has expanded its partnerships with various United Nations bodies and mechanisms, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Labour Organization, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Development Programme, and other UN bodies. It also maintains significant cooperation with the United Nations House in Doha, which has given the committee international weight and led to its assumption of high global positions in the field of human rights, she said.Her Excellency affirmed that these partnerships contribute positively to the rapid communication of human rights-related messages to the relevant authorities, ensuring that individuals' rights are upheld. She also noted that they enhance the participation of national institutions in various international human rights concerns.Her Excellency emphasized that these partnerships contribute to building more sustainable, just, and peaceful societies, facilitate the exchange of expertise, knowledge, and best practices, unify efforts to address common challenges, raise public awareness about human rights, and establish effective mechanisms to combat violations.HE Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah noted that the human rights journey in the State of Qatar is progressing steadily in line with the global human rights movement, with Qatar having ratified so far nine international treaties, including seven core human rights conventions, in addition to two optional protocols, alongside other international and regional treaties.In this context, she pointed out that all of Qatar's international commitments are consistent with the values, customs, and its civilizational and religious identity. At the same time, she pointed out that the state interacts positively with treaty bodies and Human Rights Council mechanisms, including engagement with the Universal Periodic Review and special procedures. Under the open invitation system declared by Qatar, several special rapporteurs and independent experts in this field were hosted.The NHRC in Qatar has maintained an "A" accreditation status among national institutions worldwide continuously from 2010 until 2025 (for three consecutive times), and it will undergo its fourth re-accreditation next year.

HE Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), Maryam bint Abdullah al- Attiyah, and member of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions, called on General Secretariat of the League of Arab States to support NHRC's regional and international efforts to expose the grave Israeli violations committed in context of the aggression against Qatar, and to amplify voices of victims before all international and regional human rights bodies and mechanisms.During a meeting of the Arab Network delegation with Secretary-General of the Arab League, Dr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Her Excellency al- Attiyah stressed the importance of the League's backing for accountability and investigation efforts, including prosecuting those responsible for serious human rights violations and crimes and ensuring they do not escape punishment. She highlighted the dangers of violations resulting from the Israeli aggression, which targeted a populated area that included schools and diplomatic missions.The meeting, held in Cairo, was attended by President of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions, Samar Haj Hassan, Secretary-General of the Arab Network, Sultan bin Hassan al-Jamali, and heads of human rights bodies and centers from several Arab countries. Al-Attiyah urged the League to support the outcomes of the Arab Network's extraordinary General Assembly, convened last Tuesday.She explained that immediately after the attacks on Qatar, NHRC sent urgent appeals to trigger international action against the aggression. Letters were addressed to Secretary-General of the UN, Antonio Guterres; UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk; President of UN Human Rights Council, Jurg Lauber; as well as the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and its four regional networks. Communications were also sent to leading international and regional human rights organizations, including International Labour Organization, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Penal Reform International, International Federation of Journalists, and UN Development Programme.She affirmed that this aggression also constitutes a flagrant violation of international law provisions related to protection of civilians, and of international human rights law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees children's right to protection and safety.She noted that the Israeli attack on Qatar caused humanitarian tragedies and severe material damage, in addition to deep psychological impacts on civilians — particularly women and children — turning residential areas into zones of fear and terror.Al-Attiyah added that the communications clarified how the shelling struck a civilian area containing schools, nurseries, diplomatic residences, and several embassies, placing diplomats, children, and families in direct danger. She noted that the presence of a fuel station in the targeted area posed an imminent risk of a wider humanitarian catastrophe.She further stressed that reports indicate rising cases of trauma among schoolchildren and women, underscoring the urgent need for international attention and immediate measures to protect civilians and ensure accountability.The NHRC chairperson called for incorporating the Israeli aggression against Qatar and its resulting grave human rights violations on the agenda of Arab League's Permanent Human Rights Committee at its next session, emphasizing the League's pivotal role in supporting the recommendations of the Arab Network's extraordinary meeting.She also underlined the importance of the Arab League in strengthening comprehensive reform of the UN system, to end double standards and impunity in dealing with violations committed by Israeli occupation forces against civilians. Al- Attiyah revealed that she called for an emergency meeting of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the coming days.In a related context, she reviewed the NHRC's efforts to document and expose the grave violations resulting from the aggression in its communications with relevant regional and international bodies, and to reveal all violations committed by Israeli forces against civilians.Finally, al-Attiyah praised the efforts of the Arab League's General Secretariat and its supportive stance toward Qatar and its people in the face of the Israeli attacks, commending at the same time the broad Arab and Islamic solidarity with the victims and their families.

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) strongly condemned and denounced the Israeli attack that targeted Hamas political leaders present in Doha for an internationally recognized negotiation process aimed at securing a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and advancing a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.In a statement on Wednesday, the NHRC affirmed that the assault constitutes a blatant violation of international law and a direct undermining of mediation and negotiation mechanisms, in clear contravention of the UN Charter and its purposes.The Committee noted that the attack resulted in the martyrdom of a member of Qatar Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) while carrying out his national duty to protect security and stability, in addition to several injuries among security personnel at the scene. It stressed that this adds a tragic humanitarian dimension to the violation, underscoring Israel's disregard for the right to life and human dignity.The NHRC emphasized that the attack is not merely a violation of international law, but constitutes an act of aggression under the UN Charter and international criminal law, and a grave breach of Article (2/4) of the Charter, which prohibits the use or threat of force against the independence or territorial integrity of any state.The Committee warned that this act undermines confidence in peaceful mediation as enshrined in international conventions and sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the entire international legal order.In this context, the NHRC held Israel fully responsible under international law for the aggression, stressing that the international community must go beyond verbal condemnation to adopt deterrent and binding measures, whether through the UN Security Council or competent international courts.The Committee further recalled the State of Qatar's inherent right, under Article (51) of the UN Charter, to defend itself and safeguard its sovereignty and the security of its citizens and residents by all political, legal, and diplomatic means, including resorting to international judicial mechanisms to hold the perpetrators accountable.The NHRC affirmed that, by virtue of its mandate, it will continue documenting violations resulting from the Israeli aggression and presenting them to the relevant international forums to ensure accountability, prevent impunity, and safeguard victims' rights to justice and redress.The statement concluded by calling on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities in protecting international peace and security, restoring respect for international law and the role of the United Nations, and confronting attempts to legitimize the use of armed force at the expense of peaceful solutions and human rights, in order to preserve the future of the region and safeguard global stability.