The first United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-west Asia and the Arab Region officially opened in Doha yesterday, extending Qatar’s commitment in upholding human rights to its neighbouring countries.
Gracing the ribbon cutting ceremony were Navanethem Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H E Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud.
Qatar further showed its generosity donating $1m to the centre. The donation was formally announced by the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani during the inauguration ceremony at the Grand Hyatt following the ribbon cutting ceremony.
“The establishment of the centre which has gained support from Arab states shows Qatar’s commitment in promoting human rights and is an additional invaluable asset to uphold it,” said the Al Mahmoud, adding it would enhance understanding and facilitate sharing of experiences on human rights among citizens.
The Centre was established by virtue of Resolution 2005/71 by former Commission on Human Rights, which underscored the significance of linkage and mutually reinforcing aspects of key areas of the Framework of Regional Technical Cooperation Programme. Pillay expressed gratefulness to Qatar for hosting the Centre and encouraged all stakeholders to make use of all the Centre’s resources.
“I am confident that the Centre will soon initiate many activities and as a regional resource and educational pole, become a one-stop venue,” she said, further revealing other planned enhancements to the Centre such as an on-line library and database which will provide links to UN documents and organizing at least two trainings a year.
“The Centre will be concerned with training on all human rights issues and how to prepare reports for law enforcement agencies and will provide documents translated in different languages such as Arabic, Persian, and Urdu,” said Adam Abdelmoula, Coordinator, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, MENA Unit.
In addition, Abdelmoula said the Centre might also hold special training courses in other countries and encourage governments to make proposals to further enhance the Office.
Adjacent to the UNESCO’s Doha Office in West Bay, the newly inaugurated Centre is home to volumes of UN publications on human rights which will be accessible to government agencies, students, researchers and other people concerned from 25 countries in the region.
The two-storey centre will provide training on human rights to various segments of the society and work on more future useful publications.
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