Qatar Marks 60th Anniversary of Landmark Anti-Racism Treaty with Call for Stronger National Legislation

English , Qatar - قطر , Snippets , / Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025

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Doha, December 02 (QNA) – Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marked the 60th anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) with a seminar and cultural event at the Diplomatic Club, reaffirming the country’s commitment to equality and non-discrimination.
The program highlighted ICERD as a core global human rights instrument and featured a short film showcasing Qatar’s initiatives to promote justice and combat racism.
HE NHRC Chairperson Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah said the anniversary underscores the need to renew global and national commitments to eliminating racism, describing discrimination as a threat to human dignity and social cohesion. She noted that Qatar’s constitution and National Vision 2030 enshrine the principles of equality. HE Al Attiyah called for adopting a comprehensive anti-discrimination law and establishing a specialised national body to strengthen Qatar’s legislative and institutional framework. She also urged continued adherence to the Durban Declaration and condemned racial violence in Gaza and Sudan’s Darfur region.
HE Sarah Al Saadi, Acting Director of the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed that while Qatar prioritises equality, combating discrimination is a shared responsibility of society. She referred to national programs designed to raise awareness, train officials, and embed equality across sectors.
HE Dr Sheikha bint Abdullah Al Misnad, member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, outlined the committee’s role in reviewing state reports, issuing recommendations, and providing early-warning mechanisms. She emphasised that eliminating racism requires changing attitudes along with policy reforms.
Representatives from the UN Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre praised Qatar’s cooperation with international institutions and its initiatives in education, labour, and public services.
A panel discussion reviewed ICERD’s achievements and global challenges, with experts from the foreign, interior and labour ministries, academia, and the NHRC highlighting national measures to curb discrimination. The event concluded with an open discussion and recommendations to strengthen anti-racism efforts nationally and globally.