The National Human Rights Committee in Qatar has released its 19th annual report, emphasizing the importance of the legislative developments 2023 as crucial steps toward enhancing human rights and the state’s efforts to establish judicial independence and improve its procedures.
The report commended the issuance of Law No. 1 of 2023 on documentation, which includes important provisions to protect individual rights and serve the public interest.
The law mandates assisting parties unable to express their will, allows notaries to refuse to document illegal documents with reasons for refusal, and grants notaries immunity from arrest, search, or investigation without a prosecutor’s order. It also requires the administration to inform relevant parties of any data updates within 30 days, with the right to appeal to the minister within 15 days.
The report praised the allowance for non-documentation department employees to perform some notarial duties and the use of electronic means with legal validity.
The report also lauded Law No. 3 of 2023 on combating non-Qataris’ concealment in commercial, economic, and professional activities, which prohibits any person or entity from concealing non-Qataris to enable them to engage in these activities unlawfully.
The law established a committee to combat concealment, defined its powers, and required financial institutions to report suspicious transactions to the Qatar Central Bank. It also mandated that anyone aware of a concealment crime report it to the relevant committee, granting immunity from punishment to those who report before the authorities learn of the crime. The court may suspend the execution of the sentence if the report leads to the capture of perpetrators or crime proceeds.
The report did not overlook Law No. 7 of 2023, which protects public, historical, and national documents, considering them state property that cannot be disposed of, owned, or destroyed except by law.
The law requires private document owners to register their documents with the Archives Authority, allowing them to preserve and restore them themselves or through the authority, which has the right to evaluate and purchase documents of public importance. Owners of documents have the right to appeal the authority’s decisions.
The law permits relevant entities to access or temporarily retrieve documents if necessary and allows individuals to access documents for public interest or scientific research, provided it does not compromise personal privacy or national security. Copies can be obtained after paying fees, and the law prohibits using documents beyond permitted purposes.
Law No. 8 of 2023 concerning the judiciary enhances judicial independence in Qatar, regulating the judiciary’s organization, jurisdiction, appointment, promotion mechanisms, judges’ rights, and accountability guarantees. It includes a retirement age adjustment to 65 years, with a possible five-year extension by decree, granting judges a full salary for two years.
The law also establishes a general body at the Court of Cassation to resolve jurisdictional disputes and unify legal principles, allows electronic testimony, and emphasizes the judiciary’s independence by granting the Supreme Judicial Council President the authority to appoint judicial assistants.
Law No. 9 of 2023 on the Public Prosecution emphasizes its role in enhancing judicial independence in Qatar, organizing the Public Prosecution, defining its jurisdiction, and outlining appointment and promotion procedures, considering seniority, secondment, and delegation, members’ rights, and accountability guarantees.
The law introduced new job titles for members, regulated requests for institutional treatment placements, shortened promotion periods, and lowered the retirement age to 60 from 70, with a possible extension. It granted retired prosecution members a full salary for two years.
Among the new provisions is an independent budget for the Public Prosecution, reinforcing judicial independence and granting the Attorney General the authority to appoint prosecution assistants.
Regarding Law No. 13 of 2023, which amends some provisions of Law No. 29 of 2006 on building control, the report highlighted the law’s reinforcement of the building owner’s right to be informed of maintenance or demolition decisions through notification at their national address and by registered letter.
The law also requires the municipality to inform building occupants of evacuation decisions and post a copy of the decision on the building and the municipality’s notice board. It prohibits leaving buildings abandoned if they harm public safety, health, or the general appearance and allows the municipality to require owners to take necessary measures, executing them at the owner’s expense if they fail to comply.
The 19th annual report of the National Human Rights Committee represents the latest review of the human rights situation in Qatar for 2023 and praises the legislative developments related to human rights issued by the state.
