UPR Sexual Rights Database

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 50) Despite promises in recent years by the government, AI noted that there was still no law criminalizing domestic violence. Victims instead have to make general complaints of physical or sexual abuse under the Penal Code, which does not provide sufficient protection for domestic violence.

National Report:
Para 20) Family Cohesion and Empowerment of Women Strategy 2011-2016: This strategy is one of the 14 component sectoral strategies of the National Development Strategy and comes under the umbrella of social development. Responsibility for the launch and follow-up to this strategy has been assigned to the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, in coordination with founding partners. The three main themes of the strategy [include] ... the empowerment of women.

Para 49) ... The Qatar National Vision 2030 reaffirms the need to strengthen women's capacities and to empower them to participate in political and economic life and, in particular, in decision-making. The specific goals of the national population policy include the empowerment of women and the promotion of gender equity and justice and the executive plan includes specific executive programmes for the achievement of those goals.

Para 50) The establishment of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs represents an important shift in concern for the family in general and for women in particular. Whereas previously women's issues were considered only in terms of welfare and protection, since the establishment of the Council the concepts of women's empowerment and participation have emerged for the first time in dealing with those issues in Qatari society. The Council has played a key role in developing legislation relating to women including, for example, by contributing to the drafting of the Family Code, setting the minimum age for marriage, establishing the premarital medical examination policy, establishing the age to which mothers have custody of children as 13 years for boys and 15 years for girls, contributing to the drafting of the Housing Act and establishing the right of women to access the housing system. In addition, the Council has adopted a human rights perspective in dealing with issues relating to women, children, persons with disabilities and the elderly. It has contributed to spreading awareness of women's rights and issues through the implementation of numerous training courses, workshops, discussion panels and seminars and has contributed to strengthening scientific research on women's issues through conducting and publishing studies and research.

Para 55) Moreover, the Ministry of the Interior established the Committee for Women's Affairs by Ministerial decision No. 31 of 2010. The Committee is responsible for monitoring the situation of women in the Ministry and for the implementation of related public policies, for studying issues affecting women, for coordination with various governmental and non-governmental bodies with a view to achieving the objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030, representing the Ministry at events and conferences, participating in the preparation of the Ministry's strategy for women and giving impetus to dialogue and communication with the agencies responsible for women's issues.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 9) NHRC warned that women's participation in the decision-making process is still limited, in particular with regards to their participation in the Parliament. There are currently no female representatives in The Shura Council (the legislative branch) as the current law only authorizes nomination of males.

National Report:
Para 21) … Qatar population policy 2017–2021: This policy seeks to control the population growth rate, to reduce any demographic imbalance and to mitigate the possible effects of such an imbalance. One focus of the population policy is on women and children, the main objective being to support the involvement of women in society and to create conditions conducive to increasing their participation in the workforce, while maintaining family cohesion and ensuring a healthy environment for children.
Para 22) The State has proceeded with its policy to support and empower women through the Second National Development Strategy 2018–2022, part of the Qatar National Vision 2030. Chapter III of the Strategy envisages the Social Protection Strategy 2018–2022, which aims to achieve the following results: • The establishment of an integrated, effective and sustainable system of social protection; • Strong, cohesive and empowered Qatari families; • Increasing the scope and impact of social capital.
Para 23) Qatar has constantly monitored the progress of its family cohesion strategy 2011– 2016. Between 2011 and 2015, there was a decline in the percentage of unmarried women between the ages of 35 and 39, while statistics show that the divorce rate among Qataris decreased, from 19 cases per thousand in 2008 to 16 per thousand in 2015. Similarly, there was a decline in the number of cases of domestic violence in 2015 with respect to the preceding year, after the phenomenon had taken an upward trend in the years since 2008.
Para 23) … Similarly, there was a decline in the number of cases of domestic violence in 2015 with respect to the preceding year, after the phenomenon had taken an upward trend in the years since 2008.
Para 24) National legislation that has been enacted in recent years reflects the concern of the State authorities to promote the rights of women, to eliminate discrimination between women and men, and to establish rules governing gender equality in a number of different fields. Laws use generic wording when stipulating rights or determining obligations, so that no distinction is made between men and women.
Para 25) Legislation regulating the labour market in Qatar follows the model of the Constitution in avoiding all discrimination between men and women. Laws do not envisage any negative discrimination against women and make no distinction between men and women in terms of salary or employment privileges. In fact, provision is made for positive discrimination such as in Act No. 15 of 2016 promulgating the Civil Service Human Resources Act and its implementing regulations, issued by Council of Ministers Decree No. 32 of 2016. It regulates public service in the country and includes a number of forms of positive discrimination whereby women have the right to: • The allowances and benefits of a married functionary, while her spouse will receive the allowances and benefits of an unmarried functionary, if her benefits are greater than his; • Paid leave if she has a child with a disability or a child suffering from a condition necessitating accompaniment by the mother; • Leave with full salary to accompany a sick child for treatment in a public or private hospital within the State; • Fully paid maternity leave; • Two hours per day for a period of two years, designated as “two hours for breastfeeding”; • Leave of 130 days in the case of the death of a spouse, which is the period of mourning prescribed by Islamic sharia for the death of a husband; such leave is not counted as part of other leave; • An accompanying family member if the woman has to travel on official business or to attend a training course; the costs of the companion are borne by the employer.
Para 26) The rate of participation in the workforce for individuals aged 15 years and over stands at 88.4 per cent. The results of a 2017 workforce sampling survey conducted by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics show that the number of participants in the workforce rose from 2,055,359 in 2016 to 2,056,923 in 2017, of whom males accounted for 86.5 per cent and females for 13.5 per cent. The data indicates that the economic participation rate of individuals aged 15 years and over stands at 88.4 and includes 96.1 per cent of males and 58.5 per cent of females. Also according to the data, persons aged between 25 and 34 had the highest rate of economic participation (94.5 per cent), while the economic dependency rate stood at 29.2 per cent for the same year.
Para 27) The Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs was brought into being pursuant to Amiri Decree No. 4 of 2016. The Ministry includes the Family Affairs Department, which is the competent authority for all matters pertaining to women and seeks to enhance the status and role of women in society and to maintain strong and cohesive families in which children are cared for and which abide by sound moral and religious values. The Family Affairs Department also helps to enact national strategies, plans and policies related to women, to provide social welfare and to develop and follow up on social development programmes, in coordination with the competent authorities.
Para 28) The Qatar Social Work Foundation was established in 2013 as a high-level institution with a unified management board that oversees and monitors entities within the State that are active in the area of social work. It formulates, develops and follows up on plans, programmes, policies and strategies aimed at furthering the objectives of civil society institutions, in cooperation and coordination with government ministries and agencies and with public and private entities at home and abroad. The Foundation includes the following: (1) the Social Protection and Rehabilitation Centre, (2) the Family Counselling Centre, (3) the Centre for the Care of Orphans, (4) the Centre for the Empowerment and Care of Older Persons, (5) the Shafallah Centre for Persons with Special Needs, (6) the Social Development Centre and (7) the “Best Buddies” Qatar initiative.
Para 29) The Qatar Social Work Foundation and its affiliated centres were involved in drafting the eight sectoral strategies that make up the Second National Development Strategy 2018–2022. The Foundation also oversees the development of plans for around 55 institutional and developmental projects being run by the centres in different areas. The projects – which focus on certain target groups in society – deal with critical issues such as disability, family guidance, combating violence and the care and empowerment of older persons and orphans.
Para 30) With regard to recommendations related to combating domestic violence and in addition to the legislative measures in that regard already adopted by the State, Qatar has continued its policy of combating all forms of domestic violence against women and children, including violence against domestic workers. The Hamad Medical Corporation has adopted policies to address the problem of violence against women and imposes an obligation on medical staff to report suspected cases of violence.
Para 31) The protective role of the Ministry of the Interior towards victims of domestic violence is exercised by the community police. This consists in providing support and assistance through the Ministry’s Social Support Department and, in coordination with the competent judicial authorities, empowering victims to gain access to justice in order to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. The Ministry provides a hotline service to ensure the authorities can intervene early to block and prevent violence against women and, in coordination with the Family Court, it has established a unit within the Social Support Department for the implementation of judicial rulings in cases of domestic violence.
Para 32) Since members of regional communities are more likely to be familiar with cases in which families are exposed to domestic violence, the Community Police Department of the Ministry of the Interior, in coordination with the security services, has implemented a police council regional service programme.
Para 33) The Community Police Department has organized a number of awareness-raising activities to prevent violence in schools. These include participation in events and in research projects aimed at addressing the general situation of women.
Para 34) The Community Police Department takes various measures to protect women. These include: enforcement of Family Court rulings; providing social services for cases as they arise; coordinating action by citizens, civil society institutions and specialized centres; facilitating the provision of advisory services; organizing awareness-raising campaigns; encouraging the peaceful resolution of family disputes; bolstering oversight, policing and community patrols in residential areas; supporting studies and programmes on the protection of women; and monitoring cases submitted by security departments and other bodies.
Para 35) In June 2015, Qatar amended the statutes of the Social Protection and Rehabilitation Centre (formerly the Qatari Institution for Social Protection and Rehabilitation), thereby strengthening the system of social protection and rehabilitation for vulnerable categories in Qatar, such as victims of violence and family breakdown, especially women and children. It should be noted that the Centre is a private establishment of public utility and is subject to the provisions of Decree-Law No. 21 of 2006 on private establishments of public utility, as amended.
Para 36) The Social Protection and Rehabilitation Centre acts to achieve its objectives and fulfil its functions, which include providing temporary shelter to vulnerable categories, running a hotline to receive communications relating to such categories and offering social, psychological and legal advice, as well as legal assistance to those who cannot otherwise afford it. In addition, the Centre implements special programmes aimed at empowering and rehabilitating victims of violence and family breakdown, especially women and children, and reintegrating them into the community. It also seeks to raise women’s awareness of their rights and duties and strengthen their self-confidence and capacities. To that end, it holds seminars and training courses and publishes guidance booklets and periodicals relevant to the objectives and mandate of the Centre.
Para 37) The Social Protection and Rehabilitation Centre is open to all women and children who are victims of violence. The Centre offers them support of many kinds in the form of integrated protection, reintegration and care, irrespective of the nationality of the victim, whether Qatari or non-Qatari.
Para 42) The State has continued to uphold women in positions of leadership and to support their involvement in public administration. This covers the exercise of political rights, including the right to vote and to stand for election to the Municipal Council, and is in line with international standards, particularly treaties regarding the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.
Para 43) Diagram 119 shows how the number of Qatari women in positions of leadership increased between 2008 and 2015. The rate of participation of Qatari women in the workforce remained stable at 36 per cent between 2012 and 2015 although significant progress was made in improving the balance between the work and life responsibilities of 13 women thanks to a revision of the 2009 Human Resources Act. The improved and more supportive working environment for women is partly due to the significant increase in the number of kindergartens and nurseries and the number of Qatari children enrolled therein; 71 per cent and 65 per cent respectively between 2011 and 2015.
Para 44) Under Amiri Decree No. 22 of 2017, four women were appointed to the Consultative Council, thereby reaffirming the importance the State ascribes to the involvement of women in the legislature and to upholding their rights as enshrined in the Constitution. In addition, a number of women have been enrolled into the judiciary and the Office of the Public Prosecutor.
Para 45) The number of Qatari women diplomats doubled to 90 in 2017, of whom 3 are ambassadors. A female spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was appointed in November 2017, becoming the first Qatari woman to be assigned to the position. With that appointment, the new spokesperson joins the group of Qatari women holding senior positions in the diplomatic and political spheres. In addition, under Prime Ministerial Decree No. 16 of 2016, a woman was appointed as Assistant Undersecretary for Administrative Affairs at the Ministry of Finance, while under Prime Ministerial Decree No. 21 of 2016, a woman was appointed as Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Education. Under a further Prime Ministerial Decree, a woman was appointed as Assistant Undersecretary for the Development of Digital Society at the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Para 46) According to official statistics, the representation of women in decision-making positions stands at 30 per cent. The Qatar National Vision 2030 and the 2017–2022 population policy aim to increase this percentage by boosting the political involvement of Qatari women.

UN Compilation:
Para 44) … UNESCO also signalled that the official data revealed that it was mainly men who occupied leadership positions in Qatar University. Similarly, almost no women held leadership positions in corporations and in government.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 11) Despite the overall low representation of women in decision-making positions and only one among the ministerial portfolios, the NHRC believed that the State of Qatar enabled women to serve as judges in previous years, which is considered a precedent among Gulf Arab states.