Qatar protects people's rights: Al Muraikhi

Geneva: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi said Qatar pursued a comprehensive development policy to promote, respect and protect the rights of all individuals, in keeping with the principles of the permanent constitution which put an emphasis on justice, freedom, equality and equal opportunities for all.
He added Qatar will continue to promote and protect human rights and freedoms, pointing out to these policies and development programmes the State of Qatar attained in recent years advanced rankings according to world development indicators.
Addressing the meeting of High-Level Segment of the 34th Regular Session of Human Rights Council being here, he said national legislations related to human rights and Qatar National Vision 2030, which places human person at centre of development, coupled with first national development strategy 2011-2016 as well as second draft strategy 2017-2022, all of which formed a supportive and enabling environment for implementation of human rights obligations under international treaties and conventions which Qatar has joined.
He pointed out that has made significant strides in many key areas to improve human rights, especially in education and health, and it has also made significant progress in promotion and protection of rights of women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
The minister added Qatar’s efforts in promotion and protection of human rights were not only limited to national level, but were included in its foreign policy that aimed at strengthening and promoting international and regional cooperation to carry out humanitarian, developmental, regional and international initiatives in many economic and social fields.
The State of Qatar is also striving to support peace and security to achieve international and regional stability through mediation efforts undertaken to find a fair and lasting solutions to a number of crises and conflicts, he added.
He said the Doha International Center organises annual conference on interfaith dialogue, which seeks to spread culture of dialogue and acceptance of others and peaceful coexistence among followers of different religions, pointing to Qatar hosting of US-Islamic World Forum.
He said as part of addressing the challenges facing the region in field of human rights Qatar organised forums and conferences to address issues of the region, pointing out that Doha hosted international conference on ‘Human Rights Approach to Conflict Situations in the Arab Region’.    He said the suffering of the Syrian people at the hands of the current regime reveals extent of the gross violation of international humanitarian law and international law as well as about which the United Nations which is tasked with international security and peace failed to take an active role to protect the Syrian human rights.
Qatar emphasised time and again that international inaction in stopping killings and systematic oppression policy pursued by the Syrian regime and the lack of accountability for perpetrators of war crimes committed by the regime have exacerbated the situation and the tragedy of the Syrian people.
He highlighted flagrant violations of rights of Palestinian people who live under oppression and have their properties destroyed and lands confiscated by Israeli occupation, pointing to attempts to Judaise Jerusalem despite a Unesco resolution that reaffirmed Al Aqsa Mosque as a completely Islamic holy place, in addition to unjust siege of Gaza and the continued illegal settlement activity.
The minister reiterated Qatar’s strong condemnation of Israeli Knesset’s recent ratification of law on legalising settlement, which constitutes a blatant infringement of the rights of the Palestinian people and a flagrant violation of international law and the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy.
Concluding his address, Al Muraikhi stressed Qatar’s commitment of constant cooperation with Human Rights Council to enable it to fulfill its mandate in an optimal manner.