Doha, 09 May 2026

The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) of Qatar recently convened a high-level consultative meeting with representatives from United Nations offices, agencies, and specialized bodies under the theme, “Sustaining Partnership and Integrating Roles: Strengthening Cooperation Pathways Based on a Human Rights Approach.” The gathering reflected the growing commitment between the NHRC and the UN system to deepen collaboration and promote a comprehensive human rights framework aligned with international standards.

The meeting brought together senior officials from various UN entities in Doha, including representatives from UNICEF, UNESCO, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, among others. Discussions focused on strengthening institutional partnerships, enhancing technical cooperation, and exploring practical mechanisms to support human rights initiatives and sustainable development goals.

During the meeting, Maryam bint Abdullah Al-Attiyah, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee, emphasized that the consultative gathering represented the outcome of years of constructive cooperation and institutional coordination between the Committee and various UN agencies. She noted that this collaboration has led to numerous international conferences, forums, seminars, and activities aimed at addressing global human rights challenges and advancing effective solutions in line with international norms and conventions.

Al-Attiyah highlighted the Committee’s commitment to expanding and institutionalising its partnership with the United Nations as part of its broader vision to strengthen the enjoyment of human rights and contribute to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. She explained that the NHRC’s Strategic Plan 2024–2030 was designed to align with international human rights principles, particularly the Paris Principles, while reinforcing the Committee’s role as a bridge between national and international protection mechanisms.

She further stressed that the promotion and protection of human rights require collective action, integrated roles, and meaningful participation from all sectors of society. According to her remarks, the NHRC seeks to translate these principles into practical initiatives through continuous dialogue with UN institutions, civil society organizations, youth, and other community stakeholders, while upholding the principle of leaving no one behind.

The NHRC Chairperson also underscored the Committee’s focus on launching innovative projects that support a human rights-based approach rooted in inclusivity, universality, and the interconnectedness of rights. She praised the State of Qatar’s humanitarian and development efforts at both regional and international levels, noting that the consultative meeting aimed to complement and expand these efforts through stronger institutional coordination.

Representing the United Nations agencies and offices in Doha, UNESCO Regional Director for GCC and Yemen,  Salah Khaled, reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights as a fundamental obligation under the UN Charter and international law. He emphasized that peace, security, development, and humanitarian action are inseparable from human rights principles.

Khaled highlighted the importance of integrating human rights into all policies and programs through evidence-based, people-centered approaches that prioritize accountability, risk prevention, and the rule of law. He also commended the NHRC’s Strategic Plan 2024–2030, describing it as an ambitious framework capable of uniting national expertise with the international experience of the United Nations to achieve measurable impact.

The consultative sessions explored several priority areas for future cooperation, including technical support, legislative development, awareness campaigns, capacity building, monitoring and reporting mechanisms, and the exchange of expertise and best practices. Participants also discussed establishing sustainable coordination mechanisms and developing a practical roadmap for future collaboration between the NHRC and the United Nations system.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to advancing human dignity, strengthening institutional partnerships, and transforming strategic objectives into concrete actions that promote justice, equality, and the protection of human rights for all.