Cairo, October 21 (QNA) - The 25th session of the Arab Charter Committee on Human Rights, started Monday at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Arab League of Arab States in Cairo, to discuss the third periodic report of the State of Qatar, which was commended by representatives of the participating concerned parties.
HE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater headed the State of Qatar's delegation to the session. The delegation comprises HE Qatar's Ambassador Egypt and its Permanent Representative to Arab League, Tariq Ali Faraj Al Ansari, and representatives of various government agencies in the country.
In her speech during the opening of the session, HE Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater said that the State of Qatar appreciates the important role played by the Arab Charter Committee on Human Rights to help States Parties improve and strengthen their obligations and implement the provisions of the Charter. She noting that the adoption of the Arab Charter on Human Rights came as a result of the reform efforts undertaken by the Arab League, which stressed the importance of establishing a regional system to promote, protect and monitor human rights in the Arab region.
In this regard, Her Excellency affirmed the State of Qatar's full support and cooperation to carry out its mandate and competencies related to promoting and protecting human rights, noting that the State of Qatar has continued its increasing interest in implementing the provisions of the Arab Charter on Human Rights and has taken legislative, legal, administrative and other appropriate measures in this regard to promote the rights laid by the Charter and support the means to establish and develop them within the framework of comprehensive social development.
This interest was based on national references, most notably Qatar National Vision 2030 and the three national development strategies, which culminated by the launch of the third national development strategy 2024 and 2030, Her Excellency said explaining that such references constitute a supportive and solid environment for the development of human rights in accordance with the provisions of relevant regional and international treaties and agreements.
She cited HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's affirmation before the 79th UNGA that the State of Qatar will spare no effort in working with its international partners and the United Nations to consolidate the pillars of peace, security, sustainable development, human rights and the rule of law at all levels and address global challenges in order to achieve a better future for all.
Her Excellency also referred to the re-election of the State of Qatar to the membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council for 2025-2027, which reflects the efforts made by the State of Qatar to promote the values of justice, equality and human rights, appreciating in this regard the international appreciation of the State of Qatar's firm commitment at the national, regional and international levels, which motivates it to achieve more goals aimed at enhancing human dignity nationally, regionally and internationally.
At the end of her speech, Her Excellency reiterated the presence of political resolve and supportive climate for implementing the provisions and provisions of the Arab Charter on Human Rights in the State of Qatar, stressing that the State of Qatar has spared no effort through its membership in regional and international organizations in contributing effectively to supporting efforts related to promoting and protecting human rights at the national, regional and international levels.
For her part, HE Dr. Reem Ali Ibrahim Al Derham. Acting Director of Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered the State of Qatar's introductory statement before the Committee, in which she noted the State of Qatar's keenness to ensure that the report submitted by the State of Qatar and the response memorandum include all Arab Charter-related developments in the State of Qatar since 2021.
Her Excellency pointed out that the topic of promoting and protecting human rights is at the forefront of the State of Qatar's priorities and a cornerstone of the comprehensive reform policy it is pursuing, referring to the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030, which priorities are embodied in seven main goals, namely: (sustainable economic growth, financial sustainability, a workforce ready for the future, a cohesive society, high-quality life, environmental sustainability, and distinguished government institutions).
HE Dr. Al Derham explained that during the period extending from the discussion of its second periodic report in 2021 until the issuance of this report in 2024, the State of Qatar witnessed wide-ranging developments; legislative, institutional and at the level of policies and strategies aimed at strengthening and enhancing the human rights infrastructure.
In this regard, she presented key developments that followed the adoption of the second report, including Qatar's issuance of many legislations that are of particular importance in promoting and protecting human rights in the State of Qatar, which confirms the State's keenness to continue efforts to guarantee and promote human rights by creating the necessary legislative environment. She noted that Qatar has carried out fundamental legislative reforms in recent years, the most important of which is what has occurred in the legal framework regulating the rights of migrant workers who play a pivotal role in the development and progress witnessed by the State, in addition to the signing an agreement with the International Labor Organization, in March 2024, to extend the joint work program for a new period of four years.
Her Excellency also noted the great efforts made by the State of Qatar in the field of combating forced labor and human trafficking, as the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons was established, to carry the coordination between the various authorities in the country. She also reiterated the State's keenness to cooperate with all regional and international partners in order to ensure the sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to the displaced and affected in Gaza, Lebanon and Sudan.
Furthermore, Her Excellency highlighted that the State of Qatar ratified an agreement with the United Nations regarding the establishment of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs under Decree No. (38) of 2022, and that the United Nations House in Doha was inaugurated by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, and HE Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres. 

In his speech at the opening session, HE Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Media and Communication Sector at the Arab League Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi praised the efforts made by the wise leadership in the State of Qatar in the field of human rights as a fundamental pillar for achieving stability and development in society. His Excellency also commended the commitment shown by the State of Qatar to engage in following up on the concluding observations and recommendations issued after its discussion of the 2nd periodic report before the Arab Charter Committee on Human Rights. He added that it is a commitment we have come to expect from the wise leadership in the State of Qatar, in its efforts to promote and protect the human rights-based approach in achieving the well-being of citizens. The Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League said that today is the date of the committee with the 3rd report of the State of Qatar, as part of the requirements resulting from its accession to the Arab Charter on Human Rights. He said that he commends the State of Qatar's commitment to the dates of submitting its periodic reports to the charter committee for the 3rd consecutive time and its keenness to review the best practices in the field of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as its efforts to protect and promote human rights in the State of Qatar in accordance with the content of the Arab Charter on Human Rights. In the same context, HE Chairman of the Arab Charter Committee on Human Rights Jaber Saleh Al Marri said that the submission of the State of Qatar's 3rd periodic report on time is clear evidence of its seriousness in cooperating with the mechanisms of the Arab Charter on Human Rights. He noted that this report would not have been completed during that period except as a result of the State of Qatar's commitment to the principles of transparency and accountability in its dealings with human rights issues. His Excellency added that the State of Qatar's selection of a female leader for its delegation participating in this important human rights forum is the best evidence of its firm belief in the importance of the role of women as an active partner in building society and their pivotal role in protecting, preserving, and promoting human rights. He praised this step that embodies on the ground the principles of gender equality advocated by the Arab Charter Committee on Human Rights and confirms the State of Qatar's commitment to implementing them on the ground, not only through enacting legislation and laws, but also through empowering women and their assuming roles in various fields. The Chairman of the Arab Charter Committee on Human Rights also congratulated the State of Qatar on its re-election as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for 2025-2027, stressing that this well-deserved victory more than once did not come out of nowhere, but rather is the result of tireless efforts and a firm approach in the field of protecting and promoting human rights at the national and international levels, and that it is also a testimony by the international community to the prestigious position enjoyed by the State of Qatar and an appreciation of its political value and firm commitment to the principles of universal human rights. His Excellency voiced his hope that the presence of the State of Qatar in this important international forum would be a good opportunity to enhance Arab cooperation, raise the voice of the Arab world, and defend just causes before international forums. On the sidelines of the session, HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the discussion of the 3rd periodic report of the State of Qatar comes within the context of Qatar's efforts to promote human rights, whether at the national level or through its partners with the Arab League or regional and international organizations in general. Her Excellency indicated that the second report included a number of recommendations that the State of Qatar worked on, as it adopted a number of legislations and procedures in the health, social insurance, and labor sectors. She noted that the State of Qatar will work through its membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council to advance Arab issues, mainly the Palestinian issue and the war on the Gaza Strip, within the framework of efforts to stop that war and document crimes against the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples. The 25th session of the Arab Charter Committee on Human Rights discussed the progress made by the State of Qatar in implementing its legal obligations under the Charter and on several axes, including the goals of the Charter, the right to life and physical integrity, the right to equality and non-discrimination, civil and political freedoms, combating slavery and trafficking in persons, the judiciary and the right to resort to it, the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the right to health, the right to education, the protection of the family, especially women and children, and others, in accordance with the provisions of the Arab Charter on Human Rights. The session was held with the participation of HE Secretary General of the Arab Network for Human Rights Institutions Sultan bin Hassan Al Jamali, and in the presence of a number of representatives of permanent delegations to the Arab League, the Arab Parliament, the Permanent Arab Committee for Human Rights, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, national human rights institutions, and civil society organizations. (QNA)