Qatar - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 33, May 15, 2019
Recommendations by Canada

Background

According to UPR Info, a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) that tracks the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, Qatar received 295 recommendations, of which 232 were accepted (an acceptance rate of almost 79%) in the first two cycles of the UPR. Canada’s previous recommendations to Qatar were related to strengthening protections for migrant labourers, women’s rights including awareness building around sexual violence against women, media freedom and the freedom of opinion and expression.

Qatar is has taken positive steps since its last review to implement concerns of its partners, including Canada. In 2016, Qatar appointed its first female cabinet minister to the Ministry of Health and in 2017 four women were appointed to the Advisory Council. Achievements have been made to encourage women’s participation in public life and senior leadership roles. Despite many positive steps, important challenges remain. The law continues to discriminate against women in areas such as citizenship, custody of children and inheritance. Domestic violence is also not specifically criminalized under the law.

Qatar is improving protections and working conditions of migrant workers through a three-year Technical Cooperation Project agreed with the International Labour Organization. This includes enacting legislation to lift the exit permit requirements for the majority of migrant workers, to create a fast track labour dispute mechanism improving access to justice, as well as the establishment of a temporary minimum wage, the Workers’ Support and Insurance Fund and the Wage Protections System. Nonetheless, implementation remains a challenge. In 2017, the government provided for the first time some legal protections of domestic workers’ labour rights. However, the law is not in conformity with international standards.

The government continues to exercise tight controls over civil society space both online and offline and places tight constraints on the right to freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association. According to several NGOs, media outlets and journalists are subject to significant restrictions in Qatar and the media routinely exercises self-censorship as a result. To date, Qatar has not enacted a media law that respects freedom of expression and in 2014 introduced an overly broad Cybercrime Law that enables authorities to further restrict online content deemed threatening to national security.

Recommendations

Thank you, Mr. President.

Canada welcomes the positive steps taken by Qatar to strengthen protections for the rights of migrant workers and to improve their working conditions.

Canada recommends that Qatar:

1. Withdraw its reservations to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and continue to promote gender equality and eliminate discrimination against women and girls in accordance with its obligations under the Convention.
2. Uphold freedom of expression in traditional and online media by removing restrictions on expressions critical of State officials and institutions.
3. Continue to strengthen its labour laws to enhance respect for workers’ human rights, particularly in the area of liberalizing job mobility, and ensure full implementation and adherence by penalizing employers who are in contravention of these laws. 

Canada urges Qatar to increase its outreach efforts aimed at encouraging both Qatari and expatriate women to report incidences of sexual violence to authorities and to transform awareness about the seriousness of this issue to appropriate action by police forces, prosecutors and judges.