Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) H E Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah with other officials during the event.
Doha, Qatar: Chairperson of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) H E Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah has said that the State of Qatar has taken many measures to implement the right to food.
She said that the National Food Security Strategy 2030 was designed according to a comprehensive approach that takes into account the dimensions of human rights, sustainable development, and the climate dimension.
Al Attiyah called for adopting a global approach to addressing the risks of hunger based on human rights.
This came during a regional symposium organised by NHRC on the occasion of Arab Human Rights Day.
Under the theme ‘The Right to Food: Threats and Opportunities for Protection and Empowerment’, the symposium was held in cooperation with UN Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region, and with the participation of some United Nations offices in Qatar.
Al Attiyah said: “We encourage humanitarian initiatives and programs, as well as the efforts of various institutions in the country, such as the Qatar Fund for Development, the Qatar Red Crescent Society, Qatar Charity, and other organisations that have played an effective role in enabling millions of people around the world to food access, especially in areas affected by armed conflict and natural disasters.”
She said that this symposium is in line with the contributions of the NHRC in Qatar, related to enhancing the enjoyment of the rights ensured in the Arab Charter on Human Rights and other international treaties.
Al Attiyah said: “The risks facing food security worldwide require concerted efforts among various actors at all levels to achieve goal 2 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which is a pivotal goal that overlaps with all development goals, just as the right to food is integrated with other rights, foremost among which is the right to life.”
At the same time, she stressed the ability to address challenges by Latent Energies for Investments (LEIN) and disseminating experiences and best practices.
Director of UN Training and Documentation Center for Southwest Asia and the Arab Region Dr. Abeer Al Khraisha said: “The right to food is an integral part of the human rights system, and therefore the discussion of food justice must be conducted from a comprehensive perspective that takes into account the close interconnectedness between the various rights and obligations incumbent upon states and the international community.”
On the sidelines of the symposium, NHRC launched the book “The Right to Food and Climate Challenges”, authored by H E Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari, Vice-Chairman of NHRC.
In a speech about the book, Al Kuwari said: “The book was launched in conjunction with the committee’s celebration of Arab Human Rights Day, which this year was held under the slogan ‘The Right to Food’.”
