United Nations
Convention against Torture
and Other Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment
CAT/C/QAT/CO/3
Distr.: General
4 June 2018
Original: English
Committee against Torture
Concluding observations on the third periodic report of
Qatar*
1.
The Committee against Torture considered the third periodic report of Qatar
(CAT/C/QAT/3) at its 1627th and 1630th meetings (see CAT/C/SR.1627 and 1630), held
on 1 and 2 May 2018, and adopted the following concluding observations at its 1647th and
1648th meetings, held on 15 May 2018.
A.
Introduction
2.
The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for accepting the
simplified reporting procedure and submitting its periodic report since it improves the
cooperation between the State party and the Committee and focuses the examination of the
report as well as the dialogue with the delegation.
3.
The Committee appreciates having had the opportunity to engage in a constructive
dialogue with the State party’s delegation, and the responses provided to the questions and
concerns raised during the consideration of the report.
B.
Positive aspects
4.
The Committee commends the State party’s initiatives to amend its policies and
procedures in order to afford greater protection of human rights and apply the Convention,
in particular:
(a)
The Council of Ministers’ decision of 14 March 2018 to accede to the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;
(b)
The establishment of the National Committee for Combating Human
Trafficking, in 2017;
(c)
The adoption of the First National Development Strategy (2011–2016) and
the Second National Development Strategy (2017–2022), which address human rights
issues related to education, health, the environment, the rights of migrant workers, women’s
empowerment and children’s rights.
5.
The Committee appreciates that the State party maintains a standing invitation to the
special procedure mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, which has allowed
independent experts to carry out visits to the country during the reporting period.
* Adopted by the Committee at its sixty-third session (23 April–18 May 2018).
GE.18-08848(E)