After internet hosting World Cup, Qatar praised by U.N. rights physique for labour legislation reforms however urged to do extra

Representational picture of labourers at a development website in Doha, Qatar
| Photograph Credit score: Reuters

Qatar was praised on the United Nations’ prime human rights physique on Tuesday (November 12, 2024) for bettering labour legal guidelines earlier than the 2022 World Cup, although it was urged to totally abolish its employment system for migrant employees.

Qatar returned to the Human Rights Council in Geneva for its five-yearly overview for the primary time for the reason that soccer event that wanted lots of of hundreds of international employees to construct stadiums and different important tasks.

Soccer governing physique FIFA is ready to affirm Saudi Arabia in December as host of the 2034 World Cup — organising one other decade of scrutiny on how human rights are revered whereas making ready for extra groups enjoying extra video games in additional stadiums.

In Qatar, higher labour legislation protections have been handed lately referring to a minimal wage, freedom to vary employers and combating pressured labour and trafficking, based on the emirate’s senior diplomat in Geneva.

Qatar “extremely appreciated” the contribution of migrant employees who’re “true companions,” mentioned Hend Abdulrahman Al Muftah, its everlasting consultant to the UN in Geneva, in translated feedback.

Qatar was urged — or “beneficial,” within the formal diplomatic language of the UN rights physique — by French delegate Claire Thuaudet to “pursue the implementation of the labour legal guidelines” linked to the 2022 World Cup.

Sierra Leone mentioned Qatar ought to “think about abolishing all vestiges” of the labour legislation system often called kafala.

“We commend Qatar for its notable reforms in labour migrant laws,” the Netherlands delegation mentioned. “These are important however simpler enforcement and implementations are wanted.”

Qatar additionally was requested to abolish the dying penalty by states together with Brazil, Eire, Italy and New Zealand, and decriminalise consenting same-sex relations by Brazil, Mexico and Spain.

Anticipating criticism of Qatar’s file on ladies’s rights, Al Muftah mentioned Qatar now had 120 ladies in diplomatic roles after the quantity was simply three a number of years in the past.

Sweden later beneficial Qatar overview its legal guidelines referring to ladies’s rights in divorce, custody of youngsters and inheritance whereas Iceland referred to as for abolition of the male guardianship system. Iceland additionally urged decriminalising abortion and guarantee entry to reproductive well being providers while not having the permission of a male guardian or exhibiting a wedding certificates.

Qatar’s delegation pointed to the nation rising from exterior the highest 100 to now rank No. 84 within the world index of press freedom. High-ranked Norway mentioned Qatar ought to guarantee “civil society, human rights defenders and journalists can function freely with out concern of reprisals.”

Qatar is extensively anticipated to be a robust contender in bidding to host the 2036 Olympics, and concluded its presentation Tuesday with sports activities ministry official Nasser Ali Al-Khater hailing sports activities as “an essential platform to boost cooperation between peoples.

“That is what we achieved through the World Cup,” he mentioned. “Qatar shall proceed its efforts within the area of sport and empowerment.”