Faisal al-Kohji, legal counsel at Maersk Oil Qatar, joined a delegation from Qatar to Geneva recently to discuss the country’s dedication to supporting people with special needs.
The sessions, which were held from August 17 until September 4, gave an opportunity for the delegation to present all the steps Qatar has taken to implement recommendations from the convention on the rights of people with disabilities, which was presented to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Faisal said of his participation, “I was honoured to be nominated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to join the committee in representing Qatar at the discussion as the delegation’s youngest
member.”
Faisal joined a delegation led by Najat al-Abdallah, director of the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Department at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Other dignitaries present at the event included ambassador Faisal bin Abdullah al-Henzab, Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
The discussions addressed the implementation of recommendations, in line with the convention on the rights of the persons with disabilities, which was presented and
ratified by Qatar in 2008.
“Qatar has made big strides through legislations and services to support people with disabilities and our visit to Geneva was to highlight the effort made by the state,”
Faisal said.
Faisal plays an active role in supporting the humanitarian rights of people with disabilities. He is the chairman of the Qatar Social and Cultural Centre for the Blind and a member of the Voluntary Committee for Employing People with Disabilities, The Qatari Federation for the Sports of the Disabled, People with Special Needs Committee and the National Association for the Rehabilitation of People with Special Needs.
The delegation addressed Qatar’s “strong commitment” to uphold the rights of people with disabilities and ensure that it complies with the principles stipulated in the agreement, according to a
statement.
“I am extremely proud of the fact that Qatar was one of the first states in the region to ratify the convention on the rights of people with special needs and the continuous efforts made by different institutions within the country to promote these rights,” added Faisal.