Qatar: Remove barriers faced by people with disabilities

Qatar's human rights watchdog has called on the Qatari government to speed up procedures for implementing proposed amendments to Law No. 2 of 2004 on people with disabilities to make it compatible with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Addressing an international workshop organised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Dr Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri said that the State Cabinet had approved the draft amendments in 2012.

Dr Al Marri said that the NHRC had encouraged the Qatari government to ratify the UN Convention and had recommended changes in the national legislation to match the provisions of the UN Convention.

The government has responded to those recommendations and invited the NHRC to participate in drafting amendments to Law No. 2 of 2004, he added.

Dr Al Marri further explained that the NHRC had proposed seven new provisions related to economic, social and cultural rights of people with disabilities and their right to education, health, employment and housing, in addition to the right of access to public and private facilities, and cultural and sports services.

"The Council of Ministers approved in 2012 the draft resolution but it is still under legislative procedures," said Dr Al Marri.

He added that the issuance of the resolution by the State will be a full legislative step towards compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Dr Al-Marri underlined that further efforts were needed to remove the barriers faced by people with disabilities which affect their integration into society. He said many live in poverty and suffer from isolation and deprivation of education, employment and health care.

Date: 12 October 2014

Source: The Peninsula