COMMITTEE OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILDFifty-second session14 September-2 October 2009
WRITTEN REPLIES BY THE GOVERNMENT OF QATAR TO THELIST OF ISSUES (CRC/C/QAT/Q/2) PREPARED BY THECOMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD IN CONNECTIONWITH THE CONSIDERATION OF THE SECOND PERIODIC REPORT OF QATAR (CRC/C/QAT/2)*
[Received on 4 August 2009]
WRITTEN REPLIES BY THE GOVERNMENT OF QATAR TO THELIST OF ISSUES (CRC/C/QAT/Q/2) PREPARED BY THECOMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD IN CONNECTIONWITH THE CONSIDERATION OF THE SECOND PERIODIC REPORT OF QATAR (CRC/C/QAT/2)
PART I
1.Please provide, with regard to the harmonization of national legislation with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a brief update on the legislative process and, in particular, the current status of the Children’s Bill.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child establishes numerous rights concerning the child, including: the right of the child to life, survival, development and registration after birth; the right to a name, to acquire a nationality, to preserve his or her identity and not to be separated from his or her parents; the right to express his or her views, to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings, to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and to freedom of association; the right not to be subjected to arbitrary interference; the right to legal protection, to seek information, to education and to protection from all forms of violence, injury or abuse; the right to alternative care; the right of refugee children to appropriate measures; the rights established for disabled children; the right to health care, to social security, to participate in cultural and artistic life and to be protected from economic exploitation; the right to protection from the illicit use of narcotic drugs; the right to protection from all forms of sexual exploitation; the right to protection from the abduction of, the sale of or traffic in children; the right not to be subjected to cruel punishment; the right not to participate in armed conflict; the right to rehabilitation and integration; and the right to safeguards when having infringed the penal law.
Any State acceding to the Convention on the Rights of the Child consequently endeavours to harmonize its national legislation with the provisions of that Convention by:
(a)Promulgating legislation on children’s rights, if it has no such legislation, in conformity with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child;
(b)Amending its legislation on children’s rights in order to align it with the provisions of the Convention;
(c)Developing its existing legislation on children’s rights;
(d)Taking the necessary measures for the realization of children’s rights.
With the promulgation of Decree No. 54 of 1995 approving Qatar’s accession to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention acquired the force of law in accordance with the provisions of the Qatari Constitution.
An examination of Qatar’s legislation plainly shows that it establishes and regulates children’s rights at different levels, first of all in the Qatari Constitution and additionally in relevant laws and regulatory decisions of the competent authorities, whether promulgated before or after Qatar acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in the period during which Qatar submitted its initial and second periodic reports, or between the end of that period and the date of preparation of the current report.
Examples of legislation promulgated in Qatar which establishes and governs children’s rights include:
The Qatari Constitution and laws relating to education, penalties, juveniles, criminal procedures, labour, civil matters, the trusteeship of minors’ assets, prohibition of the recruitment, employment, training and participation of children in camel racing, the State prize for children’s literature, nationality, the family, the National Human Rights Committee, military service, persons with special needs, the General Authority for Minors’ Affairs, registration of births and deaths, private associations and institutions, private philanthropic institutions, public meetings and marches, social security, the civil service, the Zakat Fund, prison regulations, the entry and residence of aliens, civil and commercial procedures, the National Health Authority, the Hamad Medical Corporation, medical treatment and domestic health services, the Supreme Education Council, and the fight against drugs.
Qatar has acceded to various international conventions on labour and on narcotic drugs and has also issued decrees establishing private institutions concerned with children’s rights, as detailed in Qatar’s second periodic report.
Furthermore, during the period between the completion of Qatar’s second periodic report and the date of preparation of the current report, various legislative acts relating to children’s rights were promulgated, including amendments to some of the acts mentioned in the second periodic report and also including individual acts governing the rights of the child in Qatar, such as:
1.Act No. 20 of 2007 amending provisions of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act No. 5 of 1982, articles 8 and 8 bis of which establish a positive role for the Qatari Orphans Foundation in respect of its contacts with the competent court, the competent health office and families wishing to assume the care and custody (hadanah) of a child.
2.Decree No. 14 of 2007 (2 April 2007) ratifying the International Labour Organization (ILO) Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 5), pursuant to articles 1 and 2 of which ILO member States undertake to suppress and not to make use of any form of forced or compulsory labour and to take effective measures to secure the immediate and complete abolition of forced or compulsory labour; and President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs decision Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of 2007 (31 March 2007) transforming special institutions established by the Council into private philanthropic institutions, namely the Shafallah Centre for Children with Special Needs, the Family Consultation Centre, the Qatari Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children, the Qatari Orphans Foundation and the Qatari Foundation for the Elderly. Under article 4 of their statutes, these institutions aim to provide social and health care, as well as comprehensive educational and rehabilitation services, for children and for target groups.
3.Amiri Decree No. 62 of 2007 (30 July 2007) establishing the Crown Prince Youth Prize, which, pursuant to article 2 of the Decree, aims to instil a sense of national belonging in young people and foster in them the collective work spirit.
4.Cabinet decision No. 5 of 2008 (7 January 2008) issuing the implementing regulation for the Military Service Act, article 2/27 of which stipulates that applicants for the rank of cadet officer must be not less than 18 years of age.
5.Act No. 7 of 2008 (23 April 2008) amending the Decree-Law establishing the National Human Rights Committee, articles 1, 2 and 3 of which provide for the restructuring of the Committee and the organization of its meetings.
6.Pursuant to Decree No. 28 of 2008 (26 May 2008), Qatar also ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which has the force of law in accordance with the provisions of the Qatari Constitution and which establishes the rights of persons with disabilities in general, including the rights of and the special protection for children with disabilities provided for under article 7 of the Convention.
7.The decision of the President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, dated 31 March 2007, establishing the Social Rehabilitation Centre, and President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs decision No. 1 of 2008 (8 June 2008) establishing the Qatar Foundation to Combat Human Trafficking, which, pursuant to article 4 of its statutes, aims to provide social rehabilitation for target groups, including children, and ensure that their personalities remain intact.
8.Decree-Law No. 24 of 2008 (25 September 2008) promoting and regulating scientific research.
9.Article 4 of the Decree-Law provides for the establishment of the Qatari Foundation for the Promotion of Scientific Research, which, in accordance with article 6 of the Decree-Law, aims to promote, finance and advance the level of scientific research and administer, develop and utilize the resources allocated to such research.
10. Minister of Social Affairs decision No. 1 of 2008 (4 November 2008) approving registration of the Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani Foundation for Humanitarian Services (a private foundation), which, in accordance with article 2 of its statutes, aims to demonstrate social solidarity among the different groups in the community, including children.
11.The Clubs Amendment Act No. 30 of 2008 (6 December 2008), pursuant to article 1 of which clubs may establish commercial companies to serve one or more of the social, sporting, cultural or other essential activities undertaken by the club for the benefit of society.
12.Act No. 3 of 2009 (26 February 2009) regulating penal and correctional institutions, which replaced the Prisons Regulation Act No. 3 of 1995 and which provides in article 5 that prisoners under 18 years of age must be segregated from other prisoners. Under article 40 of the Act, pregnant female prisoners must receive special treatment in terms of food, sleep and assigned activities, taking into account their medical condition, and are entitled to be transferred to hospital when the time for them to give birth approaches. Article 41 furthermore provides that the birth certificate must contain no reference to the child’s birth in a penal institution or to the mother’s imprisonment. Under article 42, the child must remain with his or her mother in custody until he or she reaches the age of 2 years. Under article 43, the enforcement of any punitive measures against a pregnant female prisoner must be deferred.
13.Act No. 4 of 2009 (26 February 2009) regulating the entry, exit, residence and sponsorship of migrants, and Act No. 22 of 2007, article 16 of which provides that residence permits shall be granted to males up to the age of 25 who have not completed their university education and to unmarried females.
14.The Human Resources Management Act No. 8 of 2009 (2 April 2009), which replaced the Public Service Act No. 1 of 2001 and its implementing regulation, and which provides under article 2/14 that persons engaged for public service must be not less than 18 years of age. Under article 108, female public servants are entitled to maternity leave with full pay for a period of 60 days. Under article 109, they are also entitled to two hours a day for breastfeeding purposes, while under article 110, they may be granted leave to care for their disabled or non‑disabled children.
15.Amiri Decree No. 13 of 2009 (5 April 2009) establishing the Supreme Health Council, which replaced the National Health Authority and which, pursuant to article 4 of the Decree, is the supreme body competent to deal with the country’s health affairs, aiming to deliver the best possible standard of health care and offer preventive and treatment services.
16.Amiri Decree No. 14 of 2009 (5 April 2009) regulating the Supreme Education Council, which, pursuant to article 4 of the Decree, is the supreme body competent to develop education, aiming to improve the standard of education in order to meet the State’s need for first‑rate human resources and capacities in all spheres.
17.Amiri Decree No. 15 of 2009 (5 April 2009) regulating the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, which, pursuant to article 4 of the Decree, is the supreme body competent to deal with all family-related matters, aiming to establish the status and role of the family in society, to advance the family and its members and to maintain the family as a strong and cohesive entity that cares for its children and is committed to moral and religious values and to the highest ideal. To that end, the Council may pursue all efforts for the implementation of international conventions relating to family affairs and the rights of children, women and persons with disabilities to which the State has acceded and may represent the State at regional and international conferences and committees on family affairs, children, women and persons with disabilities.
18.Decree No. 10 of 2009 (5 April 2009) approving accession to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime of 2000, pursuant to article 1 of which the Convention has the force of law in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. Under article 2 of the Decree, all competent authorities, each within its own jurisdiction, must apply the provisions of the Decree from the date of its promulgation and the Decree must be published in the Official Gazette.
The above clearly shows that Qatar’s national legislation is harmonized with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Concerning the current status of the Children’s Bill, the Committee chaired by the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and comprising competent bodies as members has completed its review. The requisite measures are now being taken to submit the Bill to the Cabinet in order to complete the legislative procedures observed in the State for the promulgation of laws.
2.Please indicate whether the Convention has been invoked or referred to directly in domestic courts, and if so, please provide examples of such cases.
A body of laws compatible with the values and traditions of Qatari society and essentially consistent with the principles and provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child is in place. These laws are deemed to be the source of the judgements pronounced in that the latter rely on their provisions, drawing upon them as they do to serve as their reason and basis.
3 Please provide further information on progress made towards the adoption of the national strategy for children 2008-2013, referred to in paragraph 26 of the State party’s report.
The national strategy for children forms part of the draft national strategy for the family in Qatar. Cooperation and coordination with the bodies concerned with the draft strategy is still continuing in advance of its submission to the competent authorities for approval.
4.Please briefly inform the Committee of the composition, human and financial resources of the National Human Rights Committee and indicate whether it has a specific unit dealing with children’s rights.
Composition of the Committee
Article 3 of the Act, as amended by Act No. 7 of 2008, provides that the Committee must be composed of no fewer than seven members who represent civil society, selected from among persons involved in human rights, and of a representative from each of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Supreme Council for Family Affairs. The representatives of these bodies must participate in the work of the Committee and attend its meetings but have no voting right. Members are appointed by Amiri decree. Article 5 of the Act, as amended by Act No. 7 of 2008, also provides that the Committee must choose its chairperson and vice-chairperson from among those of its members who represent civil society and that it must appoint a rapporteur.
The Act further provides that ministries, government organs and public authorities and institutions must cooperate with the Committee and provide the information and data necessary for it to perform its functions.
The Committee’s human and financial resources
Pursuant to article 1 of the Act, the Committee is a body corporate and has its own budget. Article 9 of the Act also makes provision for a Committee secretariat composed of a secretary‑general and an adequate number of personnel whose appointment, functions and remuneration are determined by a decision of the Committee chairperson.
In accordance with article 10 of the Act, the Committee’s financial resources consist of aid, donations, grants, gifts and bequests, in addition to the funds allocated to the Committee on an annual basis from the State’s general budget.
Since its establishment, the Committee has endeavoured to meet its human resource needs from the funds allocated to enable its performance of the functions entrusted to it. It has also sought to develop the capacities and skills of the available human resources in order to upgrade their performance to the professional standard demanded by the nature of the Committee’s work.
Children’s rights unit
The Committee is currently looking into establishing its own children’s rights unit to assume the tasks of awareness-raising and education in the field of children’s rights, with the best interests of the child as the primary consideration in all policies, programmes and activities. It is also considering the establishment of a mechanism to protect children against any violation of their rights to which they may be subjected.
5.Please provide updated information on the policies and programmes adopted and implemented to promote the right of the child to express views and those views being given due weight.
In this regard, we would point out that the country’s Permanent Constitution devotes special attention to children and mothers. Article 21, for instance, affirms that: “The family is the basis of society and is founded on religion, ethics and patriotism. The law shall regulate means of guaranteeing its protection, supporting its structure, strengthening its ties and safeguarding mothers and children under its wing.”
Article 22 of the Constitution also affirms that: “The State shall care for the rising generation, shield it from immorality and protect it from exploitation and the evils of physical, mental and spiritual neglect, creating conditions suited to the realization of its potential in all domains, based on a sound education.”
The Constitution also guarantees freedom of opinion and expression for all, including children (art. 47), in addition to related rights and freedoms, affirming as it does the right of assembly (art. 44), the right of association (art. 45), freedom of worship for all (art. 50) and freedom of the press, printing and publication (art. 48).
These constitutional principles are reflected in the provisions of the relevant legislation regulating the right of the child to freedom of opinion and expression, including:
1.Article 173 of the Family Act No. 22 of 2006, which guarantees the right of children to state their views concerning the continuation of their care and custody (hadanah), in that the competent court may permit children to select their carer when a decision to continue hadanah is being made.
2.Article 195 of the Family Act guarantees the right of children to express their views on whether to accept or reject a deed of gift (hibah) if the person making the deed is not the guardian or tutor and even if the child in such cases has a guardian.
3.The Trusteeship of Minors’ Assets Act No. 40 of 2004 guarantees the validity of transactions concluded or undertaken by children having reached 7 years of age if such transactions are wholly beneficial to them (art. 2). In addition, the competent court is permitted to authorize persons having reached 16 years of age to take receipt of, manage and trade all or some of their assets (art. 44) and children who have authorization to administer their assets are deemed legally competent with respect to the matter authorized, in which connection they are also competent to institute legal proceedings (art. 47).
4.Under the Persons with Special Needs Act No. 2 of 2004, all persons with special needs, including disabled children, are guaranteed, in addition to the other statutory rights which they enjoy, the right to be involved in decisions relating to them (art. 9/2).
5.Under the Code of Civil and Commercial Procedures, children are deemed legally competent to give testimony when they reach 14 years of age and their unsworn testimony may be taken for evidence-gathering purposes if they are below that age (art. 263 of the Code).
The State has also adopted a number of measures and programmes to promote the right of children to express their opinion, as follows.
A. Educational policy
The stated objectives of the educational policy are to impart to learners the skills of self‑expression through various media, prepare them for the duties of citizenship and for involvement in the community and politics, and develop their capacities for innovation, creativity, methodical thinking and its practical applications.
B. Student groups
1.School press and radio groups
School press and radio groups are formed in all schools at every level, providing students with ample opportunities to disseminate their views and ideas through wall magazines, leaflets, studies, morning radio broadcasts and cultural and media discussions designed to stimulate and encourage expression.
2.Student rights’ groups
Student groups known as student rights’ groups have been formed in a series of schools with the aim of disseminating the culture, concepts and principles of human rights among students, in the context of cooperation and coordination between the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the National Human Rights Committee.
Each group has a chairperson, who is generally the student most active in the subject, and holds weekly meetings. The term of membership is one school year. The functions assumed by the group are as follows:
To compile reports and studies in the field of student rights
To participate in the activities of the National Human Rights Committee
To hold an annual exhibition showcasing student activities in the field of human rights
To make field visits to relevant institutions and bodies
The groups began their activities in early May 2007. Group members have also held several meetings with school supervisors in order to acquaint them with the project and its aims and submit proposals for its development.
C. Student councils
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Supreme Education Council are constantly seeking to increase community-based interaction at the domestic and external levels, bearing in mind the importance of openness to others and of exploring and benefiting from different experiences. Such interaction also favours the enhancement and exchange of expertise, builds good relations and develops capacities for mutual dialogue and understanding.
These councils are seen as a medium for community-based interaction at the domestic level and constitute a new framework for raising students’ awareness of their role, affording them their right to express their views, developing their capacities and skills for handling dialogue and discussion, and giving effect to the principles of democracy, in particular that of being conversant with their rights and ways of claiming them.
Each school has a student council made up of student representatives who are directly elected by the student body and among whom the council’s functions are divided. Regular meetings are held between representatives of school councils at all levels system-wide in order to discuss and resolve student problems. Regular quarterly meetings are also held with officials in order to inform them of student ideas and needs. Student parliaments are another aspect of the councils operating in State secondary schools and they similarly convey student views and ideas to officials from the Ministry and the Supreme Education Council.
Student councils operate at different levels (the classroom, the school, the educational stage and the Ministry). There is also an executive board composed of officials from the Ministry and the Supreme Education Council and student council officers.
D. Philosophy behind the education development initiative
The philosophy is one that takes full account of student rights by establishing schools that enjoy the independence to pursue their own curricula, teaching methods and group activities and by offering all students the freedom to choose the school most suited to their abilities and talents.
E. General framework for the values and human rights education curriculum
A general framework for values education has also been formulated with the aim of motivating students from kindergarten to secondary levels to: think about and contemplate different values and their practical applications in terms of themselves and others, their immediate community and the world in general; deepen their understanding of responsibility; adopt healthy lifestyles; build good relationships; take an interest in others; and feel self‑confidence. The values promoted by this programme include those involving relationships with and respect and concern for others, such as cooperation, sympathy, equality, affection, peace and tolerance, in addition to other values linked with social and civic responsibilities, such as respect for the law, good citizenship, involvement in community activities, honesty, impartiality and trust. Also promoted are values associated with respect for Qatar’s cultural heritage and civilization, such as preservation of the cultural legacy and conservation of the environment.
F. Al Jazeera satellite channel
Al Jazeera Children’s Channel (JCC) plays a groundbreaking role in promoting the right of children to express their views and in cementing children’s culture through the programmes transmitted on the channel, which it either produces itself or obtains from the international market through its close relationship at the domestic and international levels with United Nations organizations. The channel began broadcasting with a recording of voices of Arab children reciting articles of the Convention, which was played during intervals between programmes. It also launched a free discussion slot for children in the programme “A Look at Me”, several episodes of which have covered issues relating to children’s rights. Relevant personalities have also appeared as guests, including Dr. Ghalia Al Thani, former member of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, and Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, in addition to academic figures who chatted with children about their rights and ways of protecting them.
JCC programmes are not confined to interaction with children in Qatar. On the contrary, the interest in children’s rights extends to interaction with children of Arab expatriates and episodes introducing children living outside the Arab world have been made. A special episode was produced in Brussels, for example, on the integration of third- and fourth-generation Arab children into the communities they inhabit, during the course of which Mr. Ján Figel, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, appeared as a guest.
In addition, JCC has produced documentaries and films for television and cinema on children’s issues in different countries, including films addressing the problems and challenges faced by children in Iraq and Palestine in accessing health and social welfare services. It has also produced films on the phenomenon of child labour.
Civil-society institutions have furthermore played a role in promoting children’s rights and the expression of children’s views. For example:
The Qatari Foundation for the Protection of Children and Women has implemented several programmes to raise awareness among school students of children’s rights and the expression of their views.
The Children’s Cultural Centre also ran a citizenship programme aimed at developing intellectual and participatory skills in order to promote the process of critical and constructive thought, as well as interaction and communication with others. A peoples and cultures programme was also implemented with the aim of exploring the cultures and experiences of other countries.
6.Please briefly inform the Committee of the steps taken following the Committee’s concluding observations on the reports submitted under the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (CRC/C/OPSC/QAT/CO/1) and on the involvement of children in armed conflict (CRC/C/OPAC/QAT/CO/1).
Qatar has taken a number of steps as a follow-up to the concluding observations on the reports submitted under the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The observations were circulated to all of the concerned government authorities and relevant civil‑society institutions in the country, each of which studied and took up the recommendations of relevance to its own areas of activity and translated them into concrete programmes.
The concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on Qatar’s report submitted under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict contained recommendations concerning: the need to ensure that violations of the provisions of the Optional Protocol are explicitly criminalized in the State’s existing legislation; the establishment of extraterritorial jurisdiction for these crimes when they are committed by or against a citizen; accession to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, given the contribution it can provide for the prevention of conscripting or enlisting children into the armed forces; withdrawal of the reservations to the Convention on the Rights of the Child; an invitation for the State party to incorporate in its national strategy consideration of the provisions of the Optional Protocol; systematic awareness‑raising and education on the Optional Protocol; the development of mechanisms to identify refugee and asylum-seeking children entering Qatar; accession to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees; the continuation of international cooperation for implementation of the provisions of the Optional Protocol, an appreciation of Qatar’s contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations and an invitation to the State to ensure that its personnel are fully aware of the rights of children involved in or affected by armed conflicts; and the need for military contingents to be aware of their responsibility to ensure that these rights are not violated.
In this regard, we refer to the fact that the Military Service Act No. 31 of 2006 prohibits the recruitment or enlistment of children to military service, providing as it does that no one under 18 years of age may be signed up for military service (art. 13).
On 2 April 2008, the instrument of withdrawal of the reservation to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography was made.
On 24 March 2009, the instrument of partial withdrawal of Qatar’s general reservation to any provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child that are inconsistent with the Islamic sharia was made. The reservation to articles 2 and 14 of the Convention, however, continues to apply.
In the light of its ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its two Optional Protocols, the State also endeavours to devote special attention to awareness‑raising and education on their provisions through various means, including the organization and holding of educational seminars and courses for numerous groups, in particular law enforcement officers. It also issues printed materials and publications and runs information campaigns aimed at raising awareness and educating the public on the rights of the child and related international principles and standards.
In 2008, the Supreme Council for Family Affairs initiated a training programme on the inclusion of children’s rights in the curricula of the Military College and the training academies of the Qatari armed forces, in cooperation with the Qatari armed forces and in active partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), this in the context of implementing the recommendations contained in the concluding observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on that subject. Two training courses were in fact held for armed forces personnel that included the drafting of an integrated proposal for a programme to teach children’s rights at the Military College and the training academies.
In 2008, in cooperation with UNICEF, the Qatar Foundation to Combat Human Trafficking ran a training course for members of the search and rescue teams of the Internal Security Force (Lakhwiya) entitled “Strengthening protection for child and women victims of trafficking during war and natural disasters”.
The State also provides financial assistance in the context of fulfilling its obligations to the international community, with due regard for the protection of human rights, including the rights of the child in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocols, as in the case of its contribution to the reconstruction of southern Lebanon.
As for the concluding observations concerning the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, the competent State authorities have implemented a series of programmes designed to put into practice the concluding recommendations.
The Qatari Penal Code No. 11 of 2004 guarantees the civil rights of children, in particular personal safety and the right to protection from violence and from physical and sexual harm (arts. 279 to 297). The prescribed penalty under the articles of the Code relating to violence, sexual exploitation and incitement to engage in depravity and debauchery is increased if the victim is a juvenile under 16 years of age. In this regard, we refer to the key actions undertaken by the Qatar Foundation for the Protection of Children and Women in cases involving children or women subjected to molestation, rape, sodomy or sexual exploitation, in that any manifestation of harm or sexual exploitation is regarded as a form of violence against which the Foundation offers protection, as follows:
1.It receives complaints or reports of abnormal practices by way of the telephone hotline, interviews, field visits, the support office for victims of violence and abuse at the Hamad Medical Corporation or referral from the Department of Public Prosecutions, security offices or a relevant government department or institution.
2.It interviews the person concerned and diagnoses the problem (preparation of a case study report).
3.It takes all necessary and appropriate measures for cooperation with the competent bodies.
4.It offers social, legal and mental health services to target groups.
5.It coordinates and follows up with government agencies and institutions providing comprehensive protection services and integrated care for victims of violence.
6.It engages pro bono lawyers to defend victims who have been subjected to criminal violence and who are not in a position to bring legal proceedings, and it monitors the prosecution proceedings in court until the case is settled.
7.It provides shelter where so required, in addition to basic living requirements, treatment, rehabilitation and social services.
The Foundation also carried out various programmes and activities intended to protect children from exploitation, including a programme to sensitize school students to the dangers and adverse consequences of abnormal practices and help social workers and teachers to deal with cases of violence and abuse against children, detect such practices and find ways of addressing them. Another of its programmes is “Friends of Child Protection”, which aims to involve communities in the national efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of violence, abuse and neglect involving children. The Foundation also held discussions designed to promote the legal culture with respect to children’s and women’s rights in society.
In January 2007, the Qatar Foundation to Combat Human Trafficking ran a training course entitled “How to protect our children against molestation”.
In January 2009, the Supreme Council for Family Affairs held a training workshop for 66 of the country’s psychologists and social experts on the subject of protecting children against violence.
7.Please provide updated information on the cooperation between the State party and the national and international communities, including non-governmental organizations, in the efforts to implement the Convention.
In the context of its efforts to implement the provisions of the Convention, the State ratified a number of pertinent international conventions that are likely to have positive effects on children’s rights, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which it ratified on 13 May 2008, the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, adopted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which it ratified pursuant to Decree No. 27 of 2009, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which it ratified pursuant to Decree No. 28 of 2009.
In December 2008, the State also signed a host agreement with the United Nations for the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region, which seeks to cooperate with governments to develop human rights policies and principles through training, documentation, exchange of expertise and human rights capacity-building for government institutions and agencies involved in the administration of national justice. Furthermore, at the opening ceremony in Doha on 27 May 2009, the State announced its donation of US$ 1 million in support of the Centre’s activities.
1.At the national level
(a)The State’s efforts to enrich, promote and protect children’s rights and ensure full implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child have continued at the legislative, executive and institutional levels. The relevant legislation promulgated recently, in 2009, reflects the State’s endeavour to afford the widest possible protection to children in all of their affairs. Under the terms of Act No. 4 of 2009 regulating the entry, exit, residence and sponsorship of migrants, for instance, the male children of a residence permit holder may also be granted a residence permit if they have not completed their studies and are under the age of 25, as may the unmarried daughters of the permit holder. Similarly, the Penal and Correctional Institutions Act No. 3 of 2009 provides that prisoners under 18 years of age must be segregated from other prisoners and have places specifically designated for them in penal and correctional institutions. The existing body of legislation on children’s rights additionally guarantees all such rights, as set forth in detail in Qatar’s second periodic report.
(b)In this area, we wish to mention the cooperation between the Supreme Education Council and the National Human Rights Committee in disseminating and providing education on the rights of the child through an assortment of training programmes and educational talks for students and those involved in the educational process, including:
A talk on human rights concepts, delivered at the Bayan Educational Complex on 29 April 2007;
A seminar on human rights concepts for students at the Abu Ubaidah bin al‑Jarah school, held on 1 May 2007;
A workshop for students and supervisors from schools that are part of the human rights group on the subject of human rights awareness-raising in schools, held on 3 March 2008;
An awareness-raising talk for female students involved in the human rights group, presented on 14 March 2008;
A workshop for students from the human rights group at which student activities on the rights of the child were reviewed, held on 16 April 2008;
A discussion group for school students on the theme of refugees, which took place on 5 and 6 May 2008 as part of the activities of the human rights groups in schools.
Cooperation is also under way to produce studies and research on human rights in general and children’s rights in particular, including a study on the right to education in Qatar and another on the incorporation of human rights concepts into Qatar’s educational programmes. Further cooperation is involved in establishing student groups concerned with human rights, already mentioned in connection with the fifth concluding observation.
In this same context, moreover, the Supreme Education Council cooperates with the Qatari Foundation for the Protection of Children and Women to promote fulfilment of the Foundation’s mission of promoting the rights of children and women and preventing violations of those rights in the legal, social, health, educational, information, political, economic and environmental spheres. The Foundation also invites relevant personalities to participate in its work, as regulated by the Supreme Education Council.
(c)The National Human Rights Committee monitors the situation of children’s rights in various ways; for example, it considers and takes the necessary action on complaints and reports relating to children’s rights that are submitted to it or received through the telephone hotline, which operates round the clock, or by way of its Internet site. It also liaises with the competent bodies with a view to eliminating any associated violations, with the best interests of the child as the primary consideration, and proposes means of preventing the occurrence of such violations. The Committee additionally offers legal advice and explains the legal position to those enquiring, whether in person or by telephone.
(d)We further wish to mention that the Qatari Foundation for the Protection of Children and Women cooperates with ministries, government agencies, public authorities and institutions and civil-society organizations at home and abroad in exchanging expertise and information relevant to its objectives. Indeed, the Foundation does not operate in isolation from civil-society organizations but rather strives constantly to build bridges of cooperation and partnership with government ministries, authorities and institutions and with non-governmental and civil-society organizations. As a result of the timely efforts and various meetings between the Foundation’s management and those institutions, strategic partnerships have been built through the signature of numerous cooperation and coordination agreements designed to facilitate procedures with respect to comprehensive protection services and the integrated care of target groups. As for the outcome of the community-based partnership, 45 focal points are now in place in the competent bodies and a total of 33 doctors and lawyers volunteered their services in support of the Foundation’s aims, having undertaken to do what is necessary to achieve the objectives of protection by taking on and catering for the humanitarian cases that come to light at the Foundation and providing important services in that connection.
(e)The Qatari Foundation to Combat Human Trafficking at the national level also works in coordination with the competent State agencies, cooperating with the Ministry of the Interior, the Department of Public Prosecutions, the courts, the Labour Department, the Supreme Health Council, the Juvenile Welfare Department and the General Authority for Minors’ Affairs, as well as with civil-society institutions, on matters of exploitation and human trafficking by holding training or sensitization workshops on human trafficking issues.
(f)The Supreme Council for Family Affairs similarly plays a prominent role, cooperating as it does with the relevant government authorities and civil-society institutions in Qatar in holding training courses and workshops and also launching initiatives in the field of children’s rights.
2.At the regional and international level
Cooperation at this level is exemplified by participation in conferences and seminars, the signature of memoranda of understanding and accession to conventions, the aim being to reinforce ties of cooperation and coordination in the exchange of information and expertise and to keep pace with the latest scientific and professional developments in conformity with overall quality standards in the field of providing protection, integrated and comprehensive care and various other services for the country’s children.
(a)In this domain, we refer to the cooperation of the Supreme Education Committee with the League of Arab States in disseminating information and providing education on the subject of human rights and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child through adoption of the Arab Plan for Human Rights Education, which was approved at the meeting of the Council of the League of Arab States at summit level, held in Damascus, by its resolution 432 of 30 March 2008. We also refer to the mechanisms for the follow-up of implementation and evaluation, approved at the 130th regular session of the Council of the League of Arab States at ministerial level by its resolution 6979 of 9 August 2008.
The Plan comprises general human rights principles and terms of reference for human rights education, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its two Optional Protocols. Also containing the future vision for human rights education, its objectives are to incorporate human rights into the education system at all levels, train human resources in the field of human rights education, create an appropriate educational environment for human rights and increase community-based participation in disseminating the human rights culture.
The Plan covers the core issues, stages and requirements pertaining to implementation, as well as the bodies concerned with its implementation. In addition to the educational aspect, it includes two further parts, namely human rights education from the teaching aspect (curricula and the educational environment) and human rights education in other social education institutions (training and awareness-raising).
(b)Cooperation with UNESCO is exemplified by the pursuit of all commitments made under the Dakar Framework for Action, adopted in 2000, relating to achievement of the education for all goals and targets in accordance with the set time frame, and by the submission of all the required assessment reports to UNESCO.
(c)Another commitment relates to the subject of universal (comprehensive) education and the entitlement or right of all children to education, without distinction among them. Qatar submitted a report on this topic, entitled “The development of education: Qatar’s national report, 2008”, to UNESCO’s International Bureau of Education.
(d)The programme to disseminate the culture of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in schools is additionally regarded as an excellent means of strengthening cooperation with international organizations in that sphere. Cooperative efforts were made to prepare teaching manuals dealing in simplified language with the rights and principles set forth in the Convention on the Rights of the Child by linking these rights with the rights of the child in Islam, drawing on passages from the Koran and the traditions (hadith) of the Prophet. These teaching manuals also include inserts that use real stories and coloured illustrations to explain rights and violations to children. The programme further includes workshops for training school staff in the use of these manuals in classroom and extra-curricular activities.
(e)The Qatar Foundation to Combat Human Trafficking also prepared an integrated programme of work for joint coordination and cooperation with international and regional organizations, such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNESCO, UNICEF, the Regional Office of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Asian‑African Legal Consultative Organization and the League of Arab States.
8.Please provide updated information on efforts made to disseminate the Convention, the State party report and previous concluding observations of the Committee.
The State circulated the concluding observations to the competent State authorities, disseminated the report at the national level and published booklets on the articles of the Convention, which it also circulated to the State authorities. Each authority consequently studied the concluding observations of relevance to its own area of activity and implemented appropriate programmes and projects.
Pursuant to Decree No. 54 of 1995 (12 July 1995), which was accordingly published in the Official Gazette and took effect from the date of its promulgation, Qatar also acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which, under the provisions of the Qatari Constitution, has the force of law. Pursuant to Decree No. 15 of 2003 (19 March 2003), which was similarly published in the Official Gazette and took effect from the date of its promulgation, Qatar further acceded to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, which has the force of law in accordance with the provisions of the Qatari Constitution. Hence, the publication of the Decree and of the Convention of the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol in the State’s Official Gazette, in which legislative acts are published, is the legal means of disseminating those acts and of informing everyone of them and of their entry into force from the date of their publication.
9.Please indicate the issues affecting children that the State Party considers to be priorities requiring the most urgent attention with regard to the implementation of the Convention.
1.Increasing the percentage of enrolment in kindergartens in the 3-5 age group in line with the directive on compulsory enrolment in kindergarten.
2.Ensuring access to education for disabled children on an equal footing with their able peers by providing the necessary facilities for their enrolment in special education and in government, non-governmental and inclusive schools.
3.Reducing the number of children with diabetes by developing appropriate programmes for the prevention and treatment of this disease.
4.Reducing the percentage of children suffering from obesity as a result of changes in eating habits and lack of exercise.
5.Promoting accident prevention measures, in that a significant percentage of accident victims are children.
6.Developing measures for the early detection of children with disabilities or at risk of disability, such as testing, measuring and other tools and methods of assessment.
7.Raising awareness of the positive and negative effects of technology on children and ensuring beneficial use of the Internet.
8.Empowering disabled children to use information and communication technology on an individual basis and also in schools and in centres and institutions for persons with special needs.
9.Guaranteeing cultural protection of the child’s environment from violation and exploitation.
PART II
1.New bills or enacted legislation
A number of legislative acts on children’s rights have thus far been promulgated since the completion of Qatar’s second periodic report, including amendments to some of the acts mentioned in the second periodic report and also including individual acts governing the rights of the child in Qatar, such as:
(a)Act No. 20 of 2007 amending provisions of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act No. 5 of 1982, articles 8 and 8 bis of which establish a positive role for the Qatari Orphans Foundation in respect of its contacts with the competent court, the competent health office and families wishing to assume the care and custody (hadanah) of a child;
(b)Decree No. 14 of 2007 (2 April 2007) ratifying the ILO Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 5), pursuant to articles 1 and 2 of which ILO member States undertake to suppress and not to make use of any form of forced or compulsory labour and to take effective measures to secure the immediate and complete abolition of forced or compulsory labour; and President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs decision Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of 2007 (31 March 2007) transforming special institutions established by the Council into private philanthropic institutions, namely the Shafallah Centre for Children with Special Needs, the Family Consultation Centre, the Qatari Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children, the Qatari Orphans Foundation and the Qatari Foundation for the Elderly. Under article 4 of their statutes, these institutions aim to provide social and health care, as well as comprehensive educational and rehabilitation services, for children and for target groups;
(c)Amiri Decree No. 62 of 2007 (30 July 2007) establishing the Crown Prince Youth Prize, which, pursuant to article 2 of the Decree, aims to instil a sense of national belonging in young people and foster in them the collective work spirit;
(d)Cabinet decision No. 5 of 2008 (7 January 2008) issuing the implementing regulation for the Military Service Act, article 2/27 of which stipulates that applicants for the rank of cadet officer must be not less than 18 years of age;
(e)Act No. 7 of 2008 (23 April 2008) amending the Decree-Law establishing the National Human Rights Committee, articles 1, 2 and 3 of which provide for the restructuring of the Committee and the organization of its meetings;
(f)Pursuant to Decree No. 28 of 2008 (26 May 2008), Qatar also ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which has the force of law in accordance with the provisions of the Qatari Constitution and which establishes the rights of persons with disabilities in general, including the rights of and the special protection for children with disabilities provided for under article 7 of the Convention;
(g)The decision of the President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, dated 31 March 2007, establishing the Social Rehabilitation Centre, and President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs decision No. 1 of 2008 (8 June 2008) establishing the Qatar Foundation to Combat Human Trafficking, which, pursuant to article 4 of its statutes, aims to provide social rehabilitation for target groups, including children, and ensure that their personalities remain intact;
(h)Decree-Law No. 24 of 2008 (25 September 2008) promoting and regulating scientific research;
(i)Article 4 of the Decree-Law provides for the establishment of the Qatari Foundation for the Promotion of Scientific Research, which, in accordance with article 6 of the Decree-Law, aims to promote, finance and advance the level of scientific research and administer, develop and utilize the resources allocated to such research;
(j)Minister of Social Affairs decision No. 1 of 2008 (4 November 2008) approving registration of the Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani Foundation for Humanitarian Services (a private foundation), which, in accordance with article 2 of its statutes, aims to demonstrate social solidarity among the different groups in the community, including children;
(k)The Clubs Amendment Act No. 30 of 2008 (6 December 2008), pursuant to article 1 of which clubs may establish commercial companies to serve one or more of the social, sporting, cultural or other essential activities undertaken by the club for the benefit of society;
(l)Act No. 3 of 2009 (26 February 2009) regulating penal and correctional institutions, which replaced the Prisons Regulation Act No. 3 of 1995 and which provides in article 5 that prisoners under 18 years of age must be segregated from other prisoners. Under article 40 of the Act, pregnant female prisoners must receive special treatment in terms of food, sleep and assigned activities, taking into account their medical condition, and are entitled to be transferred to hospital when the time for them to give birth approaches. Article 41 furthermore provides that the birth certificate must contain no reference to the child’s birth in a penal institution or to the mother’s imprisonment. Under article 42, the child must remain with his or her mother in custody until he or she reaches the age of two years. Under article 43, the enforcement of any punitive measures against a pregnant female prisoner must be deferred;
(m)Act No. 4 of 2009 (26 February 2009) regulating the entry, exit, residence and sponsorship of migrants, and Act No. 22 of 2007, article 16 of which provides that residence permits shall be granted to males up the age of 25 who have not completed their university education and to unmarried females;
(n)The Human Resources Management Act No. 8 of 2009 (2 April 2009), which replaced the Public Service Act No. 1 of 2001 and its implementing regulation, and which provides under article 2/14 that persons engaged for public service must be not less than 18 years of age. Under article 108, female public servants are entitled to maternity leave with full pay for a period of 60 days. Under article 109, they are also entitled to two hours a day for breastfeeding purposes, while under article 110, they may be granted leave to care for their disabled or non‑disabled children;
(o)Amiri Decree No. 13 of 2009 (5 April 2009) establishing the Supreme Health Council, which replaced the National Health Authority and which, pursuant to article 4 of the Decree, is the supreme body competent to deal with the country’s health affairs, aiming to deliver the best possible standard of health care and offer preventive and treatment services;
(p)Amiri Decree No. 14 of 2009 (5 April 2009) regulating the Supreme Education Council, which, pursuant to article 4 of the Decree, is the supreme body competent to develop education, aiming to improve the standard of education in order to meet the State’s need for first‑rate human resources and capacities in all spheres;
(q)Amiri Decree No. 15 of 2009 (5 April 2009) regulating the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, which, pursuant to article 4 of the Decree, is the supreme body competent to deal with all family-related matters, aiming to establish the status and role of the family in society, to advance the family and its members and to maintain the family as a strong and cohesive entity that cares for its children and is committed to moral and religious values and to the highest ideal. To that end, the Council may pursue all efforts for the implementation of international conventions relating to family affairs and the rights of children, women and persons with disabilities to which the State has acceded and may represent the State at regional and international conferences and committees on family affairs, children, women and persons with disabilities;
(r)Decree No. 10 of 2009 (5 April 2009) approving accession to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime of 2000, pursuant to article 1 of which the Convention has the force of law in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. Under article 2 of the Decree, all competent authorities, each within its own jurisdiction, must apply the provisions of the Decree from the date of its promulgation and the Decree must be published in the Official Gazette.
2.New institutions
(a)On 27 December 2006, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Foundation for Science, Research and Community Development, announced the establishment of the Sidra Medical and Research Centre (a private philanthropic institution);
(b)On 6 February 2007, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned established the Qatar Heritage and Identity Centre (a private philanthropic institution);
(c)On 8 June 2008, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned, in her capacity at that time as President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, issued a decision establishing the Social Rehabilitation Centre (a private philanthropic institution);
(d)On 8 June 2008, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned, in her capacity at that time as President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, also issued her decision No. 1 of 2008 establishing the Qatar Foundation to Combat Human Trafficking (a private philanthropic institution);
(e)On 4 November 2008, registration of the Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani Foundation for Humanitarian Services (a private institution) was approved pursuant to Minister of Social Affairs decision No. 1 of 2008;
(f)On 24 December 2008, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al-Missned established Education Above All (a private philanthropic institution).
3.Newly implemented policies
I.Withdrawal of reservations
(a)On 2 April 2008, the instrument of withdrawal of the reservation to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography was made;
(b)On 24 March 2009, the instrument of partial withdrawal of Qatar’s general reservation to any provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child that are inconsistent with the Islamic sharia was made. The reservation to articles 2 and 14 of the Convention, however, continues to apply.
II.Ongoing accession to international conventions, such as:
(a)On 2 April 2007, the ILO Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 5), was ratified pursuant to Decree No. 14 of 2007;
(b)On 26 May 2008, Qatar ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities pursuant to Decree No. 28 of 2008;
(c)On 24 March 2009, the instrument of Qatar’s accession to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was made, together with certain reservations and declarations;
(d)On 5 April 2009, accession to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime of 2000 was approved pursuant to Decree No. 10 of 2009.
III.Private philanthropic institutions and private foundations concerned with children’s rights continue to be established in the context of achieving the objectives for which such institutions as Education For All and the Foundation for Humanitarian Services, mentioned earlier, were established.
4.Newly implemented plans of action, programmes and projects and their scope
Qatar seeks to disseminate and raise community awareness of children’s rights and their importance by arranging and holding educational courses, conferences, seminars and workshops on children’s rights, running information campaigns in the media and organizing meetings with school students at which talks are given on topics relating to children’s rights. The National Human Rights Committee also issues printed materials and conducts research and studies on the subject of children’s rights.
An overview of newly implemented programmes and projects is as follows:
(a)In 2008 and 2009, the National Human Rights Committee ran several educational courses, seminars, workshops and information campaigns, issued printed materials and conducted studies and research, as follows:
An introductory workshop on children’s rights and relevant international principles and standards, held in March 2008 for students and supervisors from boys’ schools;
An introductory workshop on children’s rights and relevant international principles and standards, held in March 2008 for students and female supervisors from girls’ schools;
A workshop on children’s rights and their importance, held in April 2008 for students from independent secondary schools for boys;
An introductory workshop on fundamental human rights principles, the nature of the Committee’s work and activities undertaken by the Committee for the promotion and protection of human rights, held in April 2008 for students from children’s rights groups;
An introductory discussion group on fundamental human rights principles, held in May 2008 for students from independent schools;
A workshop on human rights, held in November 2008 for primary school students;
An introductory workshop on children’s rights and articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, held in April 2008 for students from independent schools;
A training course on the incorporation of human rights into the primary, preparatory and secondary school curricula, held in March 2009;
An educational course on international human rights conventions, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, held in March 2009 for law‑enforcement officers;
A training course on Qatari legislation and human rights, including the rights of the child in Qatari legislation, held in May 2009 for law-enforcement officers;
An introductory workshop on the rights of the child, held in April 2009 for students from one school;
A workshop on “Human rights through the right to education”, which included topics relating to children’s rights, held in April 2009 for students from an independent school;
An information campaign to raise awareness and educate the public on the rights of children and women, conducted in May 2009 under the title of “Discover the truth”.
(b)The Qatari Foundation for the Protection of Children and Women has implemented several programmes aimed at protecting children in line with the prescribed goals, targets and policies and the guidelines for action to end violence, abuse and abnormal practices within the family and community and protect the right of children to freedom of opinion and expression, such as:
Interaction with schools with a view to disseminating the culture of children’s rights in all levels of education;
The “Friends of Child Protection” programme aimed at disseminating the culture of protection and supporting national efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of violence, abuse and neglect involving children by building the foundations of partnership and cooperation with all those concerned with child protection;
Discussion groups on the legal culture with the aim of imparting and raising legal awareness among target groups in order to strengthen the legal and rights‑based culture in accordance with international standards and principles for the protection of children and women in society as a whole;
The Dar al-Aman project, which offers the target group not only protection in the event of any behavioural abnormalities in the family but also rehabilitation by providing psychological and social support on the basis of treatment and rehabilitation plans;
The Foundation’s office at the Hamad Medical Corporation offers comprehensive protection services, social care and legal help for those subjected to violence who present at the Hamad Medical Corporation, providing support and assistance in such cases;
A workshop entitled “Skills for dealing with cases involving child abuse and violence against women”, the aim of which was to establish a comprehensive national framework representing the competent law-enforcement authorities and human rights institutions and to provide initial and further training for persons working with children and women in skills for dealing with cases of abuse and violence;
A training course for experts and teachers in government and independent schools in the detection of child abuse cases, including sensitization to the dangers of child abuse, ways of detecting an abused child, types of abuse and the reporting mechanism;
Training for police officers in dealing with child and women victims of violence, the aim of which was to improve their skills and techniques in interviewing victims of violence, using correct scientific methods, and in dealing with such victims when reports or complaints are submitted;
The publication of a guide to the standards and areas of child protection and the development of general terms of reference for dealing with all aspects relating to children’s rights and the duties of the family and community to protect those rights;
The publication of an article in the magazine Aman reviewing the culture and methods of protection and sensitizing children and women to their legal and moral rights.
(c)The Qatar Foundation to Combat Human Trafficking has also carried out various awareness-raising activities and concrete initiatives to increase community awareness and establish an anti-human-trafficking culture among all groups of society. The awareness-raising aspect entailed the holding of lectures, seminars and workshops by the Foundation, as follows:
A workshop entitled “How to protect our children against molestation”, held in January 2007, introducing the concept, causes and effects of molestation and raising awareness of methods of preventing and treating different types of molestation and the role of community organizations in dealing with such cases;
The organization of field visits to the Foundation for school students in order to familiarize them with the services it offers, which are strengthened through training courses in how to identify victims, the aim being to instil the principle of human rights in general and to combat trafficking specifically (2007);
A workshop on interview and case-study techniques for social and humanitarian workers, held in 2008, the aim of which was to acquaint them with key theories in social and psychological guidance, relevant tools and their use in research and humanitarian care, the latest scientific trends and methods in case diagnosis and study, and skills and techniques involved in case study and classification, while also covering professional ethics, confidentiality, appropriate interview conditions, interview methods and the requirements for successful interview;
A training workshop for female students from Qatar University on the causes, forms and effects of human trafficking and its adverse repercussions on affected groups (2008), the aim of which was to pinpoint the concepts, forms and types of human trafficking and identify victims and how to deal with them, particularly children;
A training workshop on “Human trafficking: concept, types and effects”, held in December 2008 for female students from the Police Training Academy, the aim of which was to pinpoint the concepts, forms and effects of human trafficking and identify signs of victims of such trafficking and how to deal with them;
A training workshop for the Search and Rescue Team (Lakhwiya), held in October 2008, entitled “Strengthening methods of protection for child and women victims during war and natural disasters”, the aim of which was to provide an introduction to human trafficking and to the role and objectives of the Foundation and its achievements in combating human trafficking;
(d)The Children’s Cultural Centre has also implemented numerous children’s programmes, as follows:
A programme for primary school children entitled “Our parks: culture and entertainment”, which is a scientific leisure programme intended to develop positive attitudes towards learning in general and learning science in particular and in which 8,500 children had participated by June 2009;
A health awareness programme entitled “Your food is the way to your health”, which has as its catchphrase “I’m interested in my food” and which aims to raise awareness of nutritional health among children and their carers, having started by focusing on raising awareness of obesity through the following:
(a)A survey of obesity in Qatar, sponsored by the Ministry of Health and conducted in June 2009;
(b)The design and preparation of an awareness-raising gift in the form of a bag containing seven items to raise children’s awareness, which was launched by the Minister of Health in June 2009 for distribution to 40,000 children at primary level;
(c)An interactive scientific workshop on obesity in primary schoolchildren at which useful scientific information was presented on child cravings, the aim being to seek the greatest possible change in food behaviour in order to eliminate bad eating habits, and to explain the risks associated with such habits. Visits were made to 110 primary schools and approximately 40,000 students participated in the interactive workshops.
PART III
1.Please provide updated data on budget allocations (in absolute figures and percentages of the national and regional budgets) and analysis of trends for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009 regarding the implementation of the Convention in the areas of education, health, social services and child protection.
Allocations from the State’s general budget are made to the competent authorities on the basis of expenditure categories and resources. Each authority is responsible for allocating its funds for the implementation of its programmes, including children’s programmes in the fields of education, health, social services and protection, in accordance with its areas of competence, activities and circumstances.
2.Please provide data covering the last three years on:
(a)The number of children used in sexual exploitation, including prostitution, pornography and trafficking:
During the last three years, the Qatari Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children has dealt with a number of cases of child molestation, as illustrated in table 1.
Table 1
Number of cases of child molestation dealt with by the Qatari Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children during the period 2007-2009
|
Year |
Cases of molestation |
|
2007 |
5 |
|
2008 |
4 |
|
2009 |
8 |
(b)The number of those children who were provided access to recovery and social reintegration services, specifying the type of services
The number of children who were provided access to the services offered by the Qatari Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children during the last three years is illustrated in table 2.
Table 2
Number of children provided access to the services offered by the Qatari Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children during the period 2007-May 2009
|
Field of protection |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
|
Social |
52 |
54 |
40 |
|
Legal |
26 |
6 |
3 |
|
Economic |
1 |
39 |
0 |
|
Educational |
59 |
12 |
6 |
|
Health |
7 |
0 |
4 |
|
Total |
145 |
111 |
53 |
Between 3 May 2009, the date when care and rehabilitation services were first offered, and 13 July 2009, the Social Rehabilitation Centre also dealt with six children aged between 7 and 10 years in cases involving molestation, parental neglect, delinquency and the consumption of psychotropic substances. They were offered services in the form of individual psychotherapy, support, self-assessment, cognitive-behavioural therapy and family therapy.
The Qatar Foundation to Combat Human Trafficking extended its protection services to 10 children, providing them with shelter in the Refuge and Humane Care Centre and with comprehensive medical, psychological and social care. In all cases, it prepared rehabilitation programmes, devised recreational programmes with a view to the child’s social integration, engaged them with their peers in other social institutions on various occasions, coordinated with other State authorities in order to provide the assistance and services needed by the children, including in the issuance of substantiating documents and health cards, enrolled them in school and involved them in the Centre’s cultural and religious programmes.
3.Please list studies, assessments and surveys undertaken by the State party in the last three years on issues of priority concern to the implementation of the Convention.
The national report on comprehensive education in Qatar, 2008
The inclusion of human rights in school curricula at the preparatory and secondary levels in Qatar, 2008
The national report on implementation of the Convention against Discrimination in Education (1960) and recommendations for non-discrimination in education during the period 2000-2005, Doha, 2008
Human rights concepts in the Koran and Sunnah, 2007
Qatar’s national report “Mid-decade assessment of education for all”, 2007
The inclusion of certain concepts in the subjects of social science and Arab society, 2007
An analysis of the status of human rights in school systems in Qatar, 2009
The campaign against child obesity
The sensitization of groups working with children in government and non-governmental agencies to the substance of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its two Optional Protocols during the years 2004 to 2009
The programme for dissemination of the culture of children’s rights in schools
The State prize for children’s literature
A study by the National Human Rights Committee on the situation of children who have had cochlear implant surgery in Qatar, in the light of the principles and provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The preparation by the Qatari Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children of a comprehensive form for use in a survey of women and children in Qatar
Children in Qatari legislation and relevant international principles and standards
A study on legal protection for victims of violence
A working paper on the successful rehabilitation of children by the Qatari Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children, presented to the Regional Conference on Childhood and Maternity in Kuwait
The preparation by the Qatari Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children of a study on the legislative frameworks needed to protect children and mothers
The preparation by the Qatari Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children of a study on mental disorder in victims of abuse
The preparation by the Qatari Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children of a study on international conventions on the protection of children from abuse and violence and their implications for Qatari legislation and laws
The convening by the Qatari Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking, in cooperation with UNESCO, of the first scientific conference on “Human trafficking: theory and practice” in the context of UNESCO’s interest in encouraging education and scientific learning
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