Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 19th Session
Universal Periodic Review of Qatar
Statement by Australia
7 May 2014
Australia welcomes the delegation from Qatar to its Universal Periodic Review and thanks it for its national report. We commend Qatar for issuing a standing invitation to all special procedure mandate holders in 2010.
Australia welcomes efforts since 2010 to improve the situation for migrant workers in Qatar, including enabling the visit of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants in November 2013. Australia recommends Qatar remove the requirement in the Sponsorship Law for foreign nationals to obtain the permission of their current employer before moving jobs or leaving the country and ensure that the rights of migrant workers are protected.
Australia welcomes Qatar’s interest in acceding to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Australia recommends that Qatar accede to the ICCPR and ICESCR, and in particular, work to strengthen its judicial framework, including due process, freedom of expression and freedom of association.
Australia recommends Qatar establish a formal moratorium on the death penalty with a view to ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR.