QNA/New York

Qatar has reaffirmed its commitment to continue to play a constructive and neutral role to promote and protect human rights, and fully co-operate with international organisations and relevant UN bodies.
This came in a statement of the State of Qatar delivered by HE the Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alia Ahmed bint Saif al-Thani before the UN General Assembly meeting on the item “Report of the Human Rights Council”.
Opening her statement, Sheikha Alia expressed Qatar’s strong condemnation of the criminal bombings in the French capital Paris which resulted in the deaths and injuries of a large number of people, stressing that this is contrary to all moral, human and religious values which are aimed at destabilising the security and stability and the killing of innocent unsuspecting.
She also reaffirmed Qatar’s support to the Human Rights Council and commended its efforts to carry out its work in accordance with the principles of impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity.
Qatar’s statement pledged to exert every possible effort to ensure that the Council is able to perform its functions to improve human rights standards, address human rights violations, including gross and systematic violations, respond immediately to emergencies, promote the right of development and education, fight against violence and put an end to impunity. The statement also announced that Qatar opposes some attempts to undermine the Council’s efforts.
Qatar, represented by its wise leadership, attaches great importance to promote, respect and protect human rights in the framework of the comprehensive reform policy pursued by the State in accordance with the overall vision for the development of “Qatar National Vision 2030”.
Sheikha Alia Ahmed bint Saif al-Thani reaffirmed the keenness of the State of Qatar through its membership in the Council to fulfil its obligations and commitments in the field of human rights, preserve the principles of humanity, consolidate the human rights’ concepts and culture and co-operate with the Council and other human rights bodies.
Qatar seeks to develop and improve its performance in the field of human rights not only through the promotion of constitutional protection and legal guarantees, but also through the development of the institutional framework to promote and protect human rights and the exchange of experiences with other countries, Sheikha Alia said adding that this has been confirmed by Qatar’s open and standing invitation to the those in charge of special procedures, including Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants in 2013 and the Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers in 2014, who praised Qatar’s co-operation with them and its response to their recommendations.
Sheikha Alia pointed out that Qatar was keen to play an active role in the protection and promotion of human rights in the regional context through hosting the  United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region in Doha, saying that the Third Committee will consider the draft resolution entitled “United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region”, expressing her thanks to the countries that co-sponsored this draft resolution, which is presented for the fourth time since its inception in 2005.
Sheikha Alia praised the Council’s efforts in providing technical assistance and building capacity for countries to fulfill their obligations in the field of human rights as well as its growing and effective role in consolidating the concepts and culture of human rights and raising awareness on it.
She also commended the adoption of the draft decision to protect the family in the Human Rights Council.
In addition, Qatar’s statement demanded the international community to co-ordinate efforts to ensure a free and safe environment for civil society organisations to work in without fear or intimidation.