Mohamed Fouad, Qatar NHRC

Establishing a network of human rights activists in the Gulf States and Yemen is the latest activity that the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar (NHRC) is supporting to help strengthen human rights in the region.

Launched in early July, the joint initiative of the NHRC and the Yemen-based Human Rights Information and Training Centre will provide 170 men and women from seven regional countries with information and training in international human rights law.

“Supporting the work of individuals and organisations is an important contribution that our organisation can provide to help build human rights capacity in the region,” says Mohamed Fouad, Legal Adviser for the NHRC.

“In recent times we have also been promoting the establishment of national human rights institutions in Bahrain and Yemen, as well as cooperating with our colleagues in the human rights commissions of Jordan, Palestine, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.”

Mohamed believes that building greater awareness and respect for human rights is the basis for genuine progress in the region.

He brings to his current role with the NHRC a breadth of experience gained from working in different countries over the past 17 years – as a human rights worker in Germany and Geneva and a judge in Egypt. He has also written several books on international humanitarian law, human rights and women's rights.

Mohamed’s role with the NHRC, where he has worked for the past five years, is similarly broad.

“I carry out investigative visits to detention centres, provide human rights advice to the Qatari Government and other agencies, as well as review domestic laws to ensure that they meet international human rights standards,” he says.

“My role also includes receiving, assessing and helping people – both Qatari citizens and expatriates – to resolve their human rights complaints.”

Sponsorship laws for migrant workers and other labour rights issues are the current priority of the NHRC.

In its latest report, the NHRC objected to the practice of deporting foreign workers who approach authorities seeking a change in their sponsorship arrangements. It has recommended that all deportation decisions be subjected to judicial review.

Mohamed worked closely with the APF to coordinate its recent training program on human rights defenders for the national human rights institutions of West Asia, which was held in Doha last month and hosted by the NHRC.

He also led a number of sessions which examined relevant international human rights law.

“It was a very practical workshop where participants were able to share their experiences and the daily challenges they face,” he says.

“It is very important to build relationships with other colleagues from national human rights institutions in the region so we can support each other in our work. I am very grateful to the APF for their help and cooperation in making these opportunities possible.”