The State of Qatar

United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

“Tackling the Racism and Discrimination Issues in
Society”

Position Paper
Discrimination destroys people. Harming others what they believe to be the truth and threatening
the rights of others simply because of who they are. Discrimination causes inequality in society
and occurs when there are humans who cannot enjoy the rights of other humans both socially and
in law.1 All human beings should have the same thing regardless of nationality, religion, race,
ethnicity, skin color and gender. However, being discriminated against continues to this day. Even
further, discrimination has entered the realm of politics. Leaders and power holders utter hate
speech against other countries on the basis of nationality, race, especially religion. Experience has
shown that the practice of discrimination is the worst source of racism available because it can be
established as official policy with the force of law. This makes racism not easily countered.
Minority people and marginalized are deliberately scapegoated for the sake of political interests.
This phenomenon did not only exist in the past, but is still the body today.
UNHRC or United Nations Human Rights Council is an inter-state body under the United Nations
which has a responsibility in terms of protecting and advancing human rights in the world. In its
journey, the United Nations of Human Rights has taken many steps in overcoming human rights
issues. One of them is by making core treaties that have been around since 1945 and continue to
grow until now. One of its founding documents is the 1945 United Nations Charter and the 1949
Universal Declaration of Human Rights.2 In addition, there is also ICERD or The International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which discusses how to
eliminate discrimination and promote human rights in the future. Various treaties and protocols
made have the option of voluntary ratification by member states and each country that ratifies has
the obligation to carry out the contents of these treaties legally. From 1995 to 2020, Qatar has
ratified at least 9 UNHRC international treaties. This shows we strive to ensure the human rights
of each individual as best we can.
Historically, Qatar has faced various problems of discrimination, both race, ethnicity and certain
gender. We are both victims and perpetrators of racial discrimination. But we understand that this
is a challenge for every country. Realizing what has happened in the past, we are now fully
committed to taking various actions to solve problems with the past. We will carry out our
obligation to protect and fulfill human rights both within the state and internationally to combat
inequality and discrimination. 3 We have made tremendous progress in ending discrimination

1
Amnesty International. 2019. “Discrimination” [online]. Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-
do/discrimination/ [Accessed on 14th November 2020].
2
UNHRC (2014) The Core International Human Rights Treaties. New York and Geneva: United Nation [online].
Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/CoreInternationalHumanRightsTreaties_en.pdf
[Accessed on 14th November 2020].
3
OHCHR. 2020. “Qatar: UN racism expert commends reforms but urges more action to end persistent discrimination”
[online]. Available at:
especially against race. We have carried out a labor reform which was previously our main issue
in discrimination. We have improved the conditions of migrant workers especially those on low
incomes and will continue this into the coming year. As a member country of the United Nations
Human Rights Council, we are responsible for protecting and advancing human rights in the world,
we will continue to maintain this commitment and continue to make progress for a better future. 4
The Council is responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights
and fundamental freedoms for all. 5 This agency carries out various actions that are able to help
stop human rights crimes, both systematic and non-systematic, by taking various preventive and
resolving measures. As part of the UNHRC, Qatar will continue to participate in eradicating racial
discrimination in society and proposes solutions to resolve the problems, which are:
1. Suggest each member state to ratify existing human right conventions
We see that by ratifying the existing conventions, the implementation of tackling racial
discrimination will be easier. Member states of UNHRC must show concern for human
rights and give full responsibility for various processes and violations. By taking part in
ratifying the conference, member states will have a legal obligation to administer it and
provide periodic reports to the United Nations treaty body. This also indirectly assists data
collection of human rights violations that occur in member states.
2. Recommends member states to open blockage from Islamic countries
We emphasize the United Nations Human Rights to implement a relevant mechanism in
making decisions on ending human rights violations, especially in the issue of blocking.
Qatar sees that blocking carried out based on religion and national origin is a violation of
human rights and the state that does so must be held accountable and ensure that repetition
does not occur. Due to the lack of responsibility on the part of the perpetrating states,
human rights violations have been occurring over time. Qatar encourages law enforcement
and does not violate conventions that have been ratified by the country based on stereotypes
against Muslim countries.
3. Support humanitarian non state actors
a. Inviting member states to collaborate with other United Nations agencies such as The
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in
facilitating education on racial discrimination, UN WOMEN to help overcome the
problem of discrimination against women, and the United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF) to protect children from racial discriminations.
b. Recommended member states to work together and support local communities and non-
state actors working in the anti-discrimination and human rights movement. We
understand the need for each country to take a grass-root approach to assist UNHRC in
this racial discrimination. This is also because we understand that every country has
different conditions and requires a different approach.

https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25382&LangID=E [Accessed on 14th

November 2020].
4
OHCHR. 2020. “History”, in Welcome to the Human Rights Council [online]. Available at:
https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/pages/aboutcouncil.aspx [Accessed on 13th November 2020].
5
U.N. document, A/RES/60/251, March 15, 2006.
Bibliography
Amnesty International (2019) Discrimination [online]. Available at:
th
https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/discrimination/ [Accessed on 14 November
2020].
OHCHR (2020) “History”, in Welcome to the Human Rights Council [online]. Available at:
https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/pages/aboutcouncil.aspx [Accessed on 13th
November 2020].
OHCHR (2020) Qatar: UN racism expert commends reforms but urges more action to end
persistent discrimination [online]. Available at:
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25382&Lang
ID=E [Accessed on 14th November 2020].
UNHRC (2014) The Core International Human Rights Treaties. New York and Geneva: United
Nation [online]. Available at:
https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/CoreInternationalHumanRightsTreaties_
en.pdf [Accessed on 14th November 2020].