Doha: The State of Qatar has taken significant steps to implement the right to food, as highlighted by Her Excellency National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Chairperson Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah. Emphasizing the National Food Security Strategy 2030, she noted that it incorporates dimensions of human rights, sustainable development, and climate change.
According to Qatar News Agency, Al Attiyah’s remarks were made at a seminar organized by the NHRC and the UN Human Rights Training and Documentation Center for South-west Asia and the Arab Region, coinciding with Arab Human Rights Day. The event was attended by several UN offices accredited in Qatar.
The NHRC supports humanitarian initiatives by various institutions, including the Qatar Fund for Development, Qatar Red Crescent, and Qatar Charity. These organizations have significantly contributed to enabling millions worldwide to access food, particularly in conflict zones and areas affected by natural disasters, Al Attiyah stated.
She further noted that the seminar aligns with the NHRC’s efforts in Qatar to enhance the enjoyment of rights outlined in the Arab Charter on Human Rights and other international treaties. Al Attiyah emphasized that addressing global food security threats requires collaborative efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2, which is intertwined with other development goals and fundamental rights.
Dr. Abeer Al Khraisha, Director of the UN Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region, was among the speakers at the seminar. She stated that the right to food is a crucial component of the human rights system and must be discussed from a holistic perspective that considers the interconnectedness of rights and the obligations of states and the international community.
Dr. Rayana Bou Haka, WHO Representative in Doha, called for solidarity with Sudan and the Gaza Strip, highlighting reports of famine and worsening conditions as potential humanitarian crises. She pointed out that response mechanisms face unprecedented challenges due to disrupted systems, lack of global funding, and the diversion of attention to arms purchases by donor countries.
On the sidelines of the seminar, NHRC Vice Chairman Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari released a book on the right to food amid climate challenges. Al Kuwari emphasized the book’s role in raising awareness of climate risks to food security and promoting measures to address climate change’s impacts on food rights.
In conjunction with the seminar, the NHRC organized a discussion panel on empowering and protecting the right to food, featuring experts like UNDP Technical Representative Biplove Choudhary, WHO Representative Dr. Rayana Bou Haka, NHRC Legal Affairs Department Director Nasser Marzouq Sultan Al Marri, and Deputy Director of the UN Training and Documentation Center Ishraq Al Zain.