The MoUs were signed with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Republic of Azerbaijan’s Social Research Center, by HE Chairperson of NHRC Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah.
In a statement issued Saturday, the NHRC said that the MoUs are part of its ongoing efforts to expand its international cooperation network in the field of promoting and protecting human rights.
HE Al Attiyah emphasized that signing the MoU with the ILO is a pivotal step in consolidating the principles of social justice and enhancing workers’ rights, particularly those of vulnerable groups such as migrant workers, women, older persons, and persons with disabilities.
Her Excellency noted that institutional cooperation with the ILO will support developing tools for raising awareness and training, in addition to activating community engagement channels, and align with both the NHRC’s strategic goals and Qatar’s national development plans.
She further said that the MoU with the Social Research Center in Azerbaijan serves to broaden international academic and research partnerships, offering valuable opportunities to exchange experiences on harmonizing national legislation with international treaties, strengthening monitoring and documentation mechanisms, and building national human rights capacities.
Al Attiyah affirmed that this cooperation reflects the NHRC’s commitment to collaborative action and complementarity with peer institutions on the international stage.
Signed by HE head of the ILO Office in Doha Max Tunon, the MoU signed with the ILO aims to establish a formal framework for cooperation in promoting human rights and labor rights, especially for migrant workers, in keeping wit the Qatar national human rights strategy 2024-2030 and the ILO-Ministry of Labour Joint Work Program (2024-2028).
Cooperation between the two sides will work on developing awareness campaigns and training materials targeting community members and leaders, holding specialized workshops for NHRC staff on human rights and international labor standards, creating guidance tools for the private sector on responsible business conduct, promoting equal opportunities and combating discrimination in the labor market, in addition to encouraging knowledge exchange with human rights institutions in the Global South and launching a joint annual work plan starting this year.
As for the MoU signed with Chairperson of the Social Research Center Zahid Oruj, it aims to facilitate exchange of expertise and information regarding the alignment of national laws with international treaties; collaborate on promoting a culture of human rights through joint training and research program; strengthen mechanisms for monitoring, documentation, and redress; coordinate the protection of citizens’ rights when residing in the other country; organize reciprocal visits; exchange publications; and implement joint research projects on contemporary human rights issues.
Through signing this MoU, both parties agreed to refer to international human rights law and the 1993 Paris Principles as the guiding framework for their cooperation; both countries’ national legislations are recognized as an integral part of the agreement, as to ensure respect for legal sovereignty while balancing national and international dimensions.
The MoU also sets that each party will appoint coordinators responsible for direct communication, coordinating cooperation areas, and monitoring activities and periodic reports.
The agreement also allows proposing additional operational arrangements not explicitly mentioned in the MoU, ensuring flexibility in implementation.
Both parties are committed to preparing a detailed annual report for their respective senior authorities, outlining achievements and challenges, a step reflecting a commitment to regular evaluation and sound governance in the partnership. (QNA)
