Doha: The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Human Rights Commissioner of the Republic of Tajikistan, aimed at strengthening cooperation in the field of human rights, exchanging expertise on promoting state compliance with international human rights treaties and conventions, improving the quality of public services, and promoting the principles of good governance.
According to Qatar News Agency, the agreement was signed on the sidelines of the International Conference on the Protection of Journalists in Armed Conflicts, organized by the NHRC in cooperation with Al Jazeera Media Network’s Center for Public Liberties and Human Rights. The two-day event attracted wide participation from international experts and human rights professionals.
In this context, HE Chairperson of the NHRC, Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah affirmed the Committee’s commitment to expanding international partnerships to amplify its message globally. She noted that in recent years, the NHRC has successfully concluded numerous human rights partnerships that have significantly strengthened Qatar’s presence in the global human rights arena.
Her Excellency highlighted the importance of the newly signed MOU with Tajikistan’s Human Rights Commission, which aligns with the Paris Principles and other international frameworks aimed at improving mechanisms for human rights protection, ensuring citizens’ rights to quality public services, and reinforcing principles of good governance and the rule of law.
Under the MOU, the two parties will exchange information and publications on the protection of citizens’ rights and fundamental freedoms, including media and analytical materials related to fulfilling international human rights obligations.
The agreement also outlines joint operational and research activities, awareness and media campaigns, the organization of applied scientific conferences, seminars, and training courses. These efforts aim to improve human rights protection mechanisms at local, national, and regional levels and expand cooperation with foreign national institutions, ombudsmen, and international organizations.
Additionally, the MOU provides for bilateral consultations on protecting and respecting human rights and public service rights, as well as the development and implementation of visit programs and training activities to facilitate the exchange of experiences at both bilateral and multilateral levels. The agreement seeks to strengthen the work of both institutions in the field of human rights.
On the margin of the conference, NHRC officials held a series of meetings with international human rights experts and UN officials, including member of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, Mohamed Al-Obaidi; Director of the MENA Division at the international human rights organization AFD, Abdelmajid Mrari; member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Union Commission on International Law, Dr. Samia Bouroba; and Secretary-General of the Federation of Arab Journalists, Khaled Miri.
During these meetings, NHRC officials reiterated the Committee’s commitment to fostering impactful partnerships with international human rights institutions and organizations. The experts and UN officials praised the NHRC’s initiatives and the topics addressed in its conferences. They also commended the themes of the international conference on the protection of journalists in armed conflicts, especially in light of the serious risks journalists face in conflict zones around the world.