The State of Qatar is committed to ensuring the protection of Children across the country on a preferential basis. Laws are being proposed and enacted to protect children from all forms of violence. Recently, Qatar had to face criticism from human rights organizations for not being able to protect labor in the State.
Maryam bint Abdullah al-Attiyah, Secretary-General National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), has recently clarified that it was the top priority of the committee to promote and protect children’s rights. She was explaining the vision of the committee with regard to the protection of human rights in the State of Qatar. She also noted that at the moment children are facing several types of violence and discrimination in the country.
The protection of Children's rights is at the core of #Qatar priorities. Qatar is proud to have signed an agreement w/ @UN to open & finance a center in #Doha to promote knowledge related to the protection of children affected by armed conflict in the region.#ChildrenNotSoldiers https://t.co/G6j2qcMbKw
— Qatar Mission to UN 🇶🇦 (@QatarAtUN) February 13, 2019
To counter it, she added, the government is encouraged to pass appropriate legislation and enact a law that immediately protects children. She particularly focused on the blockade of Qatar, due to the discriminatory measures that lead to the violation of their basic rights, especially the forced separation of Qatari children from their parents.
Moreover, Al-Attiyah confirmed in a press statement that the government is likely to focus on the rights of the children. She specifically highlighted the articles of the constitution which deal with child protection in Qatar. Article 22 states that the state shall provide care for the young and protect them from corruption, exploitation, and the evils of physical, mental and spiritual neglect.
The program was one of the many ways to accomplish the Qatar National Vision 2030. In Qatar, various social institutions are playing their due role in order to protect the rights of the children.
The state shall also create circumstances conducive to the development of their abilities in all fields based on sound education. This article, she argued, is clear and takes a firm position on the matter with an intention to protect the young ones in the State of Qatar.
Qatar urges child protection from violence http://t.co/TQ08vAkkdf #Qatar
— Qatar | قطر (@qalife) March 14, 2015
She further stressed that the law affirms compulsory education, free of charge for all children from the beginning of the primary stage until the end of the preparatory stage or reaching the age of eighteen whichever is earlier, and the one responsible for refraining the child from enrolling without an acceptable excuse for compulsory education shall be punished.
It is worth noting here that the issue of children’s rights and question of perpetrated violence against then came on the surface and received great attention after it was taken up in the National Development Strategy 2011-2016. The program was one of the many ways to accomplish the Qatar National Vision 2030. In Qatar, various social institutions are playing their due role in order to protect the rights of the children.
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Institutions like Qatar Social Work Foundation, centres for protection and social rehabilitation, family counselling and care for orphans, Shafallah Center for persons with disabilities, and other social institutions are committed to ensure the safety of every child over there.
Al-Attiyah pointed to “the seriousness of the violations affecting Qatari children as a result of the blockade imposed on the country, expressing regret that the celebration of the Universal Children’s Day coincided with the continuing violations and discriminatory measures of the blockade countries, which did not exclude any category of Qatari society, including children”.
She added that these violations against Qatari children, even children from the blockade countries, are no longer hidden because of their deprivation of their basic rights, especially the right to family reunification with their parents, where Qatari children were prevented from travelling and settling with their parents, only because they had Qatari citizenship.
Facilitating Safeguarding/Child Protection workshop with teacher volunteers at the 5th Annual Model UN Conference Doha,Qatar. pic.twitter.com/YOkQF39p1q
— alexiscrump (@acrumptrains) April 20, 2019
Furthermore, Al-Attiyah said that the arbitrary decision affected infants and deprived them of their parents, while others found themselves victims because blockade countries citizens were forcibly separated from their Qatari husbands or wives. It is a matter of serious human rights which is affecting the lives of many in Qatar and beyond.
Secretary-General called on the blockade countries to stop their violations that did not exclude children, to abide by the international laws and conventions they have ratified in the field of protecting children’s rights, and to implement the resolutions of international organizations and bodies asking them to stop their violations. She also hoped that the international community may play a role in this regard to protect the rights of children and women in the State of Qatar.