Qatar National Human Rights Committee ,UNHCR Sign Cooperation Agreement

Doha, January 30 (QNA) -The Qatar National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),Regional Office for the Gulf Cooperation Council States , on Monday signed a cooperation agreement here. The Cooperation Agreement aims to establish the principles and concepts of human rights in general and refugee rights in particular. The agreement was signed by Sultan Al-Gamal,the director of the financial and administrative affairs department at the NHRC while it was signed for "UNHCR", by Imran Riza in his capacity as the UNHCR's regional representative . The two sides have agreed on the following: Whereas the two Parties believe in the importance of human rights dissemination, reinforcement and protection; Whereas they aim to establish the principles and concepts of human rights in general and refugee rights in particular; Whereas they aspire to promote the efforts aiming to implement the international covenants on human rights; and Whereas they fully understand that mutual cooperation will contribute to spreading a culture of human rights and promoting and protecting these rights, Therefore, they have agreed to consider the following principles as basic points essential to the scope of their mutual cooperation to activate this Cooperation Agreement. This Agreement is governed by the following key themes: 1. Development of public awareness on the principles and standards of human rights, including the rights of a refugee. 2. Exchange of training and qualification grants between the two Parties. 3. Organization of training courses, in mutual cooperation between the two Parties, on International Humanitarian Law. 4. Studies or research on topics of common interest between NHRC and UNHCR. 5. Mutual cooperation in the field of media including the issuance of publications or launch of joint media campaigns. 6. The possibility of referring certain urgent individual cases that may require the intervention or support of NHRC, if necessary. According to the provisions of the fore mentioned agreement, the agreement aims to support the partnership relations between the Parties through the following means: 1. Holding of training courses with at least two training courses a year on one of the topics of common interest for NHRC and UNHCR, to be delivered to the employees of NHRC, ministries or civil society organizations in the State of Qatar. 2. Participation by NHRC or one of its affiliates in training courses or meetings held by UNHCR. 3. Conducting at least two studies or research papers on topics of common interest between NHRC and UNHCR. 4. Coordination between the UNHCR External Relations Department and NHRC s Program and Education Department to issue brochures or booklets, or launch joint awareness campaigns. 5. Referral of certain urgent individual cases which may require the intervention or support of NHRC, if necessary. 6. Referral of certain urgent individual cases which may require the intervention or support of UNHCR, if necessary. 7. NHRC and UNHCR will explore the possibility of establishing/funding small enterprises for refugees by some entities. 8. Any other activities the Parties deem necessary to achieve their common objectives. 9. Organization of joint events and activities, such as celebrating the World Refugee Day and Human Rights Day, etc. 10. Sponsorship of the Martyr Ali Hassan al-Jaber Award. Meanwhile the two parties agree to take all reasonable care to perform the required duties at the highest levels of professional practice and to use a qualified team, each in their respective areas of competence and experience. In execution of the terms of this Agreement, a joint committee shall be formed of both Parties to undertake the following: 1. Preparation of programmes needed to execute the terms of this Agreement and determination of the obligations and costs thereof. 2. Interpretation and follow up on the execution of the terms of this Cooperation Agreement, and evaluation of the results thereof. 3. Proposal of new aspects of cooperation between the two Parties in the areas covered by the Cooperation Agreement. The joint committee shall submit its recommendations to officials from both Parties to issue the necessary decisions concerning operational programmes. 4. Development of programmes for joint research, studies and other works according to work requirements and procedures to be agreed upon by the Parties. 5. The committee shall convene whenever possible. Concerning amendments, the agreement provided that no party may amend any term of this Agreement of its own volition. Instead, both Parties must agree on any amendment in writing. In the event of a breach by either party of any term of this Agreement, the other party is entitled to terminate this Cooperation Agreement without any limitation or condition. The term of this Cooperation Agreement is three years commencing as of the date of signing it. This term may be extended for additional periods unless the Parties agree otherwise. This Agreement does not conflict with any similar Agreements or memoranda of understanding made by any of the Parties with others. According to the provisions of the aforesaid agreement, any of the Parties may, when necessary, suspend, postpone or terminate the Agreement, as the case may be, provided the other party shall be notified thereof by a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt to be sent one month before the proposed date for suspension, postponement or termination, taking into account that the suspension of this Agreement does not affect any programmes agreed upon before the suspension. This Agreement has been written and signed on 30 January 2012 in two originals, one kept with each party. Signed for the First Party, namely UNHCR while it was signed for the second party, namely Qatar's National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), by sultan al-gamal,the director of the financial and administrative affairs department at the NHRC HE Dr. Ali Bin Samikh Al-Marri as NHRC Chairman. Addressing a joint press conference following the signing ceremony, Sultan Al-Gamal,the director of the financial and administrative affairs department at the NHRC said the agreement would contribute to activating the role of the National Commission for Human Rights and the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the promotion of mutual cooperation in the field of human rights including the rights of refugees and the exchange of experience and training in areas of mutual concern and organizing the celebrations of the International Day for Human Rights and the World Day For Refugee and and the award sponsor of martyr Ali Hassan al-Jaber (Qatar). He explained that among the objectives of the agreement is to hold joint training courses and participation of both the NHRC and the UNHCR in activities and events organized by each of them as well as conduct joint researches in the field of international humanitarian law and to issue publications and educational rights and the refugees' affairs. Responding to a question by Qatar News Agency (QNA) whether there are joint activities to be carried out in the near future, Sultan Al Gamal said that following the signing ceremony, a joint committee of the two sides will be formed to regulate a range of activities such as conferences, training courses and workshops, noting that it was agreed to hold two events per year over the next three years of the agreement. For his part, Omran Riza highlighted in the joint press conference the distinguished role played by the State of Qatar in the field of humanitarian action, noting that such a leading role has encouraged the UNHCR to hold this agreement with the National Human Rights Committee, especially as the UNHCR plays a similar role. He added that the agreement is a legal framework for joint work between the qatari committee and the UN Commission and open space for joint activities in the field of humanitarian work, and voiced happiness and pride of the UNHCR has signed this agreement to become a strategic partner with the qatari committee in the implementation of the items it contains. He said the agreement would serve to activate the existing cooperation between the two parties and pave the way for their future work agenda regarding human rights and refugee rights. (QNA)