NHRC, Doha-Based UN Centre Mark Human Rights Day

Doha, December 10 (QNA) - The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) and United Nations Human Rights Training Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region in Doha celebrated on Monday the 'Human Rights Day', which falls on 10th December every year. This year the Day was themed "My Voice Counts". In a speech delivered during the celebration at the NHRC headquarters, Director of Finance and Administration of (NHRC), Sultan Al Jammali said wise leadership and the directives of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani made the citizen's voice valuable through the successful organization of municipal council elections that first started in March 1999, and were held regularly in April 2003, in April 2007 and in 2011. He pointed out that those successful experiences come in line with moving forward towards the path of democracy. Al Jammali said that this successful Qatari experience became more inclusive and credible when HH the Emir announced in a speech to the Advisory Council last year that its upcoming elections will be held in the second half of the year 2013. He reiterated that all these determined steps come to set up democracy in a way consistent with Qatar's social norms. Meanwhile, the Director of the Doha-based UN Centre, Dr. Obaid Ahmed al Obaid said this year's celebration is remarkable as we are going to launch the Arabic website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Doha-Based UN Centre in the coming few days. The head of the Public Relation and Media department of NHRC, Hamad Salem Abu-firayih, noted that this year's celebration holds an important message to all who try to silence the voices of the people. He pointed out that the NHRC is playing a pivotal role spreading freedom of speech and expression especially upon its holding of several regional and international responsibilities presiding over the sub-committee of the international coordination committee (ICC), and the Arab Network for Human Rights. The NHRC is currently gearing up for presiding over the Asia Pacific Human Rights Network (APHRN). Marking the Human Rights day, the NHCR together with the Doha-based UN Centre are holding an art exhibition that features 55 artworks illustrating freedom of expression. The exhibition kicked off today and runs through Thursday. (QNA)