The International Conference on Climate Change and Human Rights organized by the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in collaboration with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Development Program (UNDP), the League of Arab States, and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) will begin on Tuesday, February 21, at the Le Royal Meridien Doha in Lusail City.
The conference’s objectives, according to NHRC Chairperson HE Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah, were to highlight good practices relevant to the State of Qatar and other active partners, including governments, the United Nations (UN), civil society organizations, and businesses, and to develop recommendations for strengthening cooperation to support rights-based climate action around the world, particularly in the Middle East.
Her Excellency emphasized that women, children, migrants, and people with disabilities are those most impacted by climate change and that it poses a serious threat to human rights and life on Earth, including the right to life, water, food, health, adequate housing, movement, development, and the right to work.
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Al Attiyah emphasized the need for nations to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, in order to limit global warming and reduce these detrimental effects on human rights.
She asserted that the conference fits within the framework of efforts to address climate change and its impact on human rights and prevent or mitigate its harmful effects on human health and well-being.
NHRC stated that during the opening session of the conference, there will be 6 keynote speeches by heads and leaders of the participating entities, followed by three sessions during the first day, noting that the first session will address climate change and human rights: impacts and commitments.
The second session will cover Qatar’s efforts as a key player in the environmental protection process and its plans to move forward in cooperation with stakeholders. In contrast, the third session will address the role of UN and human rights mechanisms in advancing rights-based climate action. The first day will conclude its sessions with a meeting of the drafting committee.
The international event is an extension of the previous conferences organized by NHRC, including those dealing with issues of protecting journalists, digital human rights, combating terrorism while respecting human rights, and other issues.
Story adapted from The Peninsula
