Doha, December 9 (QNA) - The National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions and the United Nations Center for Training and Documentation in Human Rights for South-West Asia and the Arab Region, organized a talk in celebration of Human Rights Day.

The talk aimed to highlight human rights as not merely slogans or rigid legal texts, but as the foundation of daily interaction between individuals and societies. It also reaffirmed that the defense of rights is a collective responsibility that requires integrated efforts between governments, institutions, and civil society, in addition to calling for the transformation of principles into practical policies that ensure a dignified life for every human being.

In this context, HE Vice-Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari said that this occasion marked a pivotal moment in modern human history. He said that today we witness an advanced level of awareness of the concept of human rights thanks to this universal document, and that the principle of equality has become a fundamental pillar of most international conventions and national constitutions. He noted that just over seven decades ago, the world viewed large segments of humanity as being of lesser value and dignity than others. He also emphasized that one cannot speak of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights without recalling the Arab contribution to it.

He pointed out that the complex global challenges the world faces today, whether climate change, environmental degradation, digital transformation, terrorism, and armed conflicts, result in widespread violations of human rights. He stressed that addressing them requires collective international action that ensures the fruits of scientific progress and development are shared by all humanity without discrimination.

He reaffirmed that this global occasion has particular significance in the State of Qatar, as it represents an opportunity to reiterate that human rights are not merely theoretical texts but a practical tool enabling individuals and societies to build a better future.

His Excellency said that this year’s theme clearly aligns with Qatar’s Permanent Constitution, which emphasizes the preservation of human dignity in many of its provisions, and that this principle is consistent with Islamic Sharia, the main source of legislation. He also highlighted the State’s commitment to implementing the human rights conventions to which it is a party. He said that the National Human Rights Committee plays a pivotal role in promoting a culture of human rights, drawing on the Islamic civilizational heritage grounded in justice, equality, noble ethics, and respect for human dignity. He noted that the Committee has made continuous efforts to raise awareness of and protect these rights, participated in numerous international forums, and achieved a distinguished global standing.

He affirmed the continued work of the Committee across many areas, including education, health, labor, environment, and the rights of vulnerable groups such as children, women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. He highlighted the Committee’s role in ensuring that no individual was deprived of their rights during key events and major activities hosted by the State of Qatar in recent years, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and major sporting events.

For his part, HE Secretary-General of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions Sultan bin Hassan Al-Jamali said the High Commissioner’s selection of this year’s theme was a clear call to rediscover the essence of human rights in the details of our daily lives, as these details form the basis for building the human dignity everyone seeks.

In his speech during the event, he said that national human rights institutions play a pioneering role in transforming international commitments into tangible reality as they bridge the gap between the obligations undertaken by states and what citizens experience on a daily basis and serve as a living link between civil society and governments.

He added that national institutions embed a culture of rights, strengthen compliance, and enable change from within through awareness-raising, guidance, and constructive engagement with international mechanisms. He noted that these institutions are best positioned to understand daily challenges and to translate principles into tangible practices, affirming that empowering them is an investment in making dignity and justice part of everyday life.

HE the Secretary-General of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions explained that knowledge of rights enables individuals to claim them, societies to defend them, and states to integrate them into their policies. He pointed out that development that is not built on a rights-based foundation becomes fragile growth that widens gaps and deepens marginalization. He emphasized the monitoring and advisory role of national human rights institutions in following up on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring that these goals align with states’ human rights obligations.

He also noted the Network’s efforts to link development indicators to a human-rights approach that places the human being at the center of policies and programs, enabling member institutions to produce more comprehensive reports and propose more just policies that reflect and respond to reality, and translate rights into services and concrete opportunities in people’s lives. In this regard, he warned that the ongoing tragedy in the Gaza Strip reminds everyone of a people being deprived of the most basic rights to life, dignity, and safety. He stressed that what Gaza has witnessed, from acts of genocide to flagrant violations of international law, confronts all with an ethical and humanitarian test and raises the fundamental question of how the world can celebrate human rights while those very rights are being violated openly without deterrence.

He stressed that human rights are indivisible, cannot be postponed, and cannot be suspended; they are not a privilege reserved for those living in stable conditions, but a right for every human being, everywhere and at all times. Based on this principle, he said that national institutions, as independent actors, are called more than ever to raise their voices, document violations, and urge their states to fulfill their obligations as third parties under international law, while supporting the efforts of the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice to hold perpetrators accountable and provide justice to victims.

He noted that Gaza, with its daily suffering, reminds everyone that human rights are not slogans raised on occasions but responsibilities that must be lived and defended every day, and that remaining silent in the face of injustice constitutes complicity in its continuation. He called for strengthening collective thinking around ways to develop the international human rights system and exchanging views on challenges and possible solutions to help build a more just and equitable reality.

For his part, Hindam Al Rajoub, representative of the United Nations Center for Training and Documentation in Human Rights for South-West Asia and the Arab Region, considered this day to be a renewed call for joint action to promote the core humanitarian values of dignity, freedom, equality, and justice. He clarified that human rights are not abstract ideas or taken-for-granted notions, but the essentials on which people rely every day.

He stressed that the real challenge lies in bridging the gap between universally endorsed principles and daily experiences, so that these values become a tangible reality lived by every individual without exception. He highlighted that Human Rights Day is dedicated to commemorating one of the most significant global commitments in history, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which affirms the inalienable rights enjoyed by every human being, regardless of race, religion, color, or gender.

He said that the challenges facing the world today, from conflict to discrimination, and from poverty to climate change, underscore the need for greater solidarity to confront current crises. He pointed out that adopting inclusive policies and acts of solidarity can change people’s lives and bridge divisions, emphasizing the importance of upholding human rights principles as a fundamental pillar for building a more just and peaceful future, and ensuring that these rights become a tangible reality for every person, without exclusion or discrimination. (QNA)