EU praises Doha’s human rights efforts
By ONEmakikomoto •
EU praises Doha’s human rights efforts
EUROPEAN UNION’S member states yesterday praised the sincere efforts of Qatar to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms both internationally and locally.
http://gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=259995&ver...
ahhhh.... uhhhhh..... im hungry... too.
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veni, vidi, vici.
I love Italy, too, ONE. The government of Italy is a mess!
qatar is qatar without its govt?
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veni, vidi, vici.
ONE, Qatar "yes", the government "no".
ONEmakikomoto - It's very hard to change the whole "culture" (for want of a better word) of a country overnight. But it could probably be happening quicker than it is.
MD... do you think qatar deserves the recognition after all? :)
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veni, vidi, vici.
The Government of Qatar is not "elected" by the people of Qatar. Even if they don't agree with the government they cannot change it. As I said, I know Qataris who "suffer" from the immature legislation as well.
tallg. should the "change" have to be really "slow"?
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veni, vidi, vici.
in itself would be sort of delaying what is supposed to be done. What's stopping these people to implement these necessary changes? They have all the power. Is 'sincere efforts' just for show? Btw, tallg, human rights would basically encompass all facets of a human being's rights which are supposed to be protected. Check this link http://www.un.org/rights/HRToday/declar.htm.
Qataris.
While there is no PUBLIC condemnation from QATARIS then there will be no change. This is the problem, I am sure many Qataris think this story and others like them are a disgrace. Until we see them protest in the Media and in the Papers then it will continue. And they won't do that anyway, preferring not to "rock the boat".
And so it will continue. And ex-pats can't do anything about either. And so it will continue.
Qatar won't change for these very reasons, it can't change if the process and tools for change don't exist.
From Today's paper
Maid is prisoner of legal ‘blunder’
By Nour Abuzant
A HOUSEMAID has spent 28 months in jail awaiting her trial only to discover her case has come and gone – and she should have served 24 months.
The shocked Indonesian is now appealing the court’s guilty verdict and her lawyer is fighting for her release.
The 38-year-old maid was charged with conducting an illicit affair in August 2006. It was alleged that she had a relationship with a 29-year-old Sri Lankan driver. When the woman’s sponsor learned of the affair he contacted the police. The maid was imprisoned while awaiting trial, but the driver was released on bail. He subsequently fled the country.
The court gave its verdict on March 29, 2007. However, the woman was not brought to give evidence and she was tried in absentia. She was handed a two-year prison term followed by deportation.
Recently, the maid discovered the mix-up and was horrified to learn that not only had she been found guilty in her absence, but she had served four months longer than she needed to.
According to court papers, the maid and the driver had allegedly confessed to an affair under interrogation. This apparent confession led the court to come to a guilty verdict.
Now the maid’s lawyer, Asmaa Ali, is working to secure her client’s release as she waits for a retrial.
Last Thursday, the legal representative told presiding judge Osama al-Shinawi that the charge sheet clearly stated that her client was in police custody. And a source further told Gulf Times that the accused woman should not pay the price for the system’s blunder.
“It is silly to presume that the housemaid knew about the verdict earlier, that she was somehow enjoying her life behind bars with nice food and hospitality, and then she suddenly became bored,” the source said.
Ironically, because the woman has no one to guarantee her turning up for her retrial she remains in custody – and could do so until the case comes to court for a second time.
After learning of her plight, Gulf Times contacted the Indonesian embassy, but a spokeswoman said the matter had to be investigated before a decision could be taken to offer her sanctuary.
When the case does eventually come back to court, the legal panel from the original trial will be reconvened, in accordance with the law.
However, the legal source insisted that someone should be held accountable for failing to ensure the woman was brought to the courtroom on March 12, 2007.
“All suspects, regardless of charges against them, are entitled to basic rights. In this case, the simplest one of them – to bring the accused to the courtroom – was violated,” the source said.
While this sort of practice continues Qatar has NO right to say that they are making progress on human rights. None what so ever. I think the UN is disgraceful for recently holding a conference here when this sort of practice continues. Illicit relations. These are not even political prisoners, they are simply people seeking a small sense of comfort from another human being, perhaps trying to still feel human in a dehumanising job. To lock someone up for this is disgusting.
aviduser, there are Qataris here who are disgusted as well. And I know of cases where Qataris were also treated like s*it. Don't blame "the Qataris". Blame the Government!
a friend of mine had an accident a few days ago. she was driving, and an indian worker was walking on the side of the street with his bike, when out of nowhere he just started crossing the highway - no looking, no nothing. she swerved to avoid him, but could not completely and clipped him on the right side of the car before smashing into the concrete barrier on her left.
several qataris stopped, and the police eventually arrived. the cop and more than one of the qataris told her not to worry about it because he was "only an indian".
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"Even a stopped clock gives the right time twice a day." Withnail & I
tallg, slow in which sens? ahead or to the back side?....ok ok we "try" to be more optimist and as MD said HBD HRCharta....
That's your opinion timtan, but personally I think things have improved and will continue to do so, but it will be very slow.
OK, then, let's all celebrate 60 years of the Human Rights Charta. It's their birthday today!
many westerners believe in human rights and justice for all. you can claim that many are ignorant as to what goes on in the world, or what their governments do in their name, but they still believe in fundamental rights.
i know some qataris do too, but i am always shocked at how many defend the labor practices in this country.
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"Even a stopped clock gives the right time twice a day." Withnail & I
yees right MD very big efforts and tnx to make it between ""....
Well I believe Qatar is improving and are committed to improving further, which is what they are being congratulated for. But like Gypsy said; "They are trying, but they have a long way to go", so it's going to take a while.
not neccessarily, panda, because nobody is congratulating them on their "efforts".
:/ US and co should have a look to their humain rights first....
Right, tallg. But the reports (US and UN) both say that the government "failed".
No one said there weren't human rights issues in Qatar. They're praising their commitment to making improvements. And isn't that from the US report (though the UN one is similar)?
"Qatar is a destination country for men and women from South and Southeast Asia who migrate willingly, but are subsequently trafficked into involuntary servitude as domestic workers and laborers, and, to a lesser extent, commercial sexual exploitation; the most common offense was forcing workers to accept worse contract terms than those under which they were recruited; other conditions include bonded labor, withholding of pay, restrictions on movement, arbitrary detention, and physical, mental, and sexual abuse
tier rating: Tier 3 - Qatar's rating was downgraded to Tier 3 in the 2007 report for continuing to detain and deport victims rather than providing them protection; the government also failed to increase prosecutions for trafficking in a meaningful way in 2006; workers complaining of working conditions or non-payment of wages were sometimes prosecuted under false charges in retaliation".
With the same breath they "honor" Qatar they say this. Ludicrous.
...or it's just plain me.
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
Bahrain wasn't elected then.
Qatar and Bahrain was elected at that time...
...uhh, was it?
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
No. Jordan and Saudi are also members that I know of. There are probably more.
Note my comment above saying that there are 14 members of the council is incorrect. 14 places were up for election in 2007. The 3 year terms are staggered so different countries terms expire at different times.
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
Qatar and Bahrain are the only ones in the Middle East to be considered as 'Asian states members' in the UN voting.
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
You don't think they're trying to improve things timtan?
I haven't lost hope. I think someday they will succeed in having equality and human rights. They just don't have it now.
At least they're trying!
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
heero - The council was created in March 2006 and consists of 14 member countries at any one time. Qatar were elected to the council in May 2007 (by way of voting by other countries). They will serve a 3 year term, after which they may be re-elected for another term. A country can not serve more than 2 consecutive terms.
They are trying, but they have a long way to go, as demonstrated by the last couple of court rulings. :(
Promote. Hope it's not just an ad on TV or newspaper...
Has been for a while.
Uhh, how long is this 'for a while'?
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
though those aspects may be the primary concern, iw as just trying to point out... uhmmm... justice and equality before the law... no double standards... no "special" considerations.
"...but is recognising Qatar's attempts to IMPROVE human rights, which they are doing."
CONGRATULATIONS to qatar!!! uhmmmm... for what again ?
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That may come under human rights, I'm not sure. I think in this case it's more concerned with working conditions, living conditions, human trafficking, physical abuse of staff, etc, etc.
Anyways, my second paragraph still holds true.
the thing that follows after the incident... im talking about that tallg.
local vs. expat.
local's fault...
still its expat's fault.
or
local's fault.
killing a dozen people.
local gets to go jail.
...for one day. LOL.
mornin tallg.
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veni, vidi, vici.
heero - Qatar is an active member of the Geneva-based Human Rights Council. Has been for a while.
Before everyone starts saying "but Qatar has a bad human rights record, they must have paid someone to say this", or something similar, note that this announcement is not concerning Qatar's human rights record to date, but is recognising Qatar's attempts to IMPROVE human rights, which they are doing.
And I don't think a car crash comes under the "human rights" umbrella.
the maids. the labor camps. the landcrashers vs. expats incidents. the etc...
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veni, vidi, vici.
the way this qataris ridicule and play jokes to laborers and other expats? last night one expat (filipino) died when a qatari driver rammed their car.. and another injured.. if this filipino guy gets justice, and this qatari driver gets jailed... i would believe this article... ok...
everybody knows whats happening here..
What the...???
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach