845th Meeting, 35th Session, Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

I call to order the 845th meeting of the Committee on the rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The committee will continue under agenda item five, Coation of reports submitted by state party under Article 35 of the convention is consideration of the periodic report of Qatar.
Before we proceed, I would like to briefly explain the order of this morning's meeting.
105-11.
We will continue close to two covering Article 10 to 20.
We will then take a ten minute break and reconvene at 11:10.
1110-1240, we will first close the three covering Article 21 to 30 and 12 40, we will hear closing remark from the National Human Rights Institution for up to 3 minutes.
At 43, the head of delegation will head up to 5 minutes for closing remark.
A member of the task force will then have up to 3 minutes for closing remark closing no later than 12 55.
I will then deliver closing the mark and adjourn the meeting.
This is this morning schedule.
I would also remind the distinguished delegation that any responses to questions from Article 129 close to one that could not be provided during yesterday's dialogue may be submitted in writing, not Lisbons today.
I will manage the time with the support of the Secretariat and I kindly ask all speakers to be concise so that we can complete the dialogue within the allocated time.
Now, the floor is open, give the delegation of Qatar 10 minutes to respond to the question raised by the committee's task force yesterday afternoon in relation to the coaster two.
Excellency, you have the floor.
Thank you so much.
Suns.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
We would like to make a clarification related to the questions related to detention of migrant workers and the principle of no.
I'd like to give the floor to Mr.
Dosari.
You have the floor.
Thank you.
I work for the Ministry of Interior as far as the measures to put an end to the detention of migrant workers with disabilities concerned.
To respect the principle of non refoulement, I'd like to say that we provide assistance to migrants with disabilities and we try to proceed with an a very quick analysis of their cases, and persons with disabilities are not placed in detention centers where other persons are placed and we have special procedures that are applied.
When there's a need for the person to be present, there's a reasonable accommodation that is provided like ramps and wheelchairs and also special staff provides assistance We have registers for these individuals and according to the reports that we have, we once again state that there are no persons with disabilities that are located in provisionary detention centers.
This has been for the last five years.
As we deal with cases of refoulement and return to countries on the basis of humanitarian principles.
Qatar respects the principle of non refoulement in line with national legislation and international agreements that we have concluded.
When they returns back to countries, we consider the situation of the person, the nature of the disability, taking into account humanitarian considerations related to the disability.
All of this is very important before relevant decisions are taken.
Thank you.
Says the head of the delegation, can you talk now about the procedures related to registration of children with disabilities? Under Article 18, I give the floor to the Representative Ministry of Health.
Thank you.
I represent the Ministry of Health.
On Article 18, measures that are taken are as follows, all persons born in Qatar have the right to have a birth certificate in line with relevant procedures.
All births are registered, including for children with disabilities in line with the 2016 law on birth registration.
On Article 19, could you provide us with some additional information related to the autonomy of persons with disabilities and their integration says the head of the delegation.
I give the floor to the representatives of the Ministry of Development and Ministry of Education.
Thank you.
I represent the Ministry of Education as far as the information that is provided and the measures taken to person with disabilities and assistance that is provided, I can say the following on questions of education, Ministry of Education strengthens the integration of children with disabilities.
We fight exclusion.
They can participate in the general curriculum with reasonable accommodation and relevant technological and technical assistance, taking into account the individual needs.
We provide behavioral and other forms of support and also provide assistance in terms of daily activities, in terms of technical, capacities as part of secondary education, we try to highlight the abilities of children with disabilities in order to provide them with a third level of education.
The ministry analyzes the obstacles that prevent access to education.
What we try to do is to ensure that children with disabilities participate in academic and school life and we promote their integration with their peers and ensure their empowerment.
Thank you.
I represent the Department of Well being in terms of autonomy of Persons with Disabilities and their integration.
This is done throughout relevant social support and rehabilitation services and psychological support services.
Guidance is also done through parents, and we have special early procedures, training that is carried out in coordination with relevant stakeholders.
We provide support in terms of transport and access to services.
And all recreational and sports activities are covered as well.
The Ministry of Social Development works with the Qatary Foundation for social inclusion or the Hashafala Center, all of this to launch initiatives to ensure that persons with disabilities can live in an autonomous manner and on an equal footing with other persons in society.
Our ministry provides services for the autonomy and integration of persons with disabilities.
Certificates are issued related to the nature of the disability.
This is a card that makes it possible for these persons to receive relevant support.
We have taken other initiatives that we launch in order to create favorable conditions related to decent living.
We have a Sakon application for sign language, and this app makes it possible to ensure access to educational services.
We have sign language in Arabic and this application makes it possible to learn sign language for all of those who need that.
This means that this approach is harmonized throughout the entire country and neighboring countries.
Information was requested related to support services, including individual support in line with the convention.
The Convention states that individual support is important in order to ensure the freedom of movement and autonomy.
I'd like to give the floor to the representative of the Ministry of Education.
The Ministry of Social Development will be taking the floor after the Ministry of Education says the head of the delegation.
I represent the Unit of Special Education in the Ministry of Education.
As I have said earlier, the Ministry of Education provides support services individually for students with disabilities.
The We provide individual support in line with individual capabilities and special assistant work individually, specialized teachers.
All of this is done to provide assistance.
In terms of services, all of this is based on reasonable accommodation, logotherapy, physiotherapies, and other services are provided.
Also, Assistive technologies are offered based on the individual capacities.
This makes it possible for students to follow the general curriculum on an equal footing with their peers.
The objective, of course, is to strengthen their participation in school activities and it makes it possible for them to benefit from all types of activities facilitating their autonomy and integration.
Get Head of the delegation.
Please, could you now talk about the technologies and assistance tools to facilitate individual mobility? I now give the floor to the Ministry of Health.
Good morning.
The Rehabilitation Center in the Hamadar Foundation provides assistance technologies.
All of this for children and adults in Qatar, From all parts of the country, we evaluate what the needs are and we try to adapt the relevant technologies and equipment.
To decide what is necessary, this relates to wheelchairs, electric chairs, and special chairs and medical equipment and others, we have services that are provided at homes, and schools, and at the workplace.
Special clinics exist and we have assistive technologies that are offered as part of unified approach.
In 2025, There were 1,200 types of long term assistance equipment that was provided, and we also tried to reduce wait times, moving from eight months to 35 days.
In 2025, we launched a program Wheels of Change.
This is a program for children in schools, service that is provided in educational facilities with equipment that is provided where the child is located, and this is done outside of the hospitals.
Now I'd like to give the floor to my colleague from the Ministry of Social Development as the head of the delegation.
Thank you.
I'm an, a legal expert.
I'd like to say that Maado Center for Assistance Technologies plays a role and helps individuals use technologies.
We have a platform for technological assistance equipment, and we have special training that is provided in terms of using these technologies.
Innovative solutions are financed as part of the respect of universal approach.
This means that we have solutions are provided to strengthen individual autonomy and mobility of persons with disabilities.
I now give the floor to miss Amalia Camillo, of the task force.
You have the floor.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Once again, I'd like to welcome the distinguished delegation.
I have two articles to cover.
Articles 19, Article 20, many answers have been already provided, but to ensure the right to life and dignity in the community.
I understand that you have a program for personal assistance, and if that is in the case, what are the requirements to provide personal assistance to a person with disability and My next question is, have you established a process for deinstitutionalizations in line with the guidelines on deinstitualizations, including in emergency situations that the committee approved in 2022.
Please, could you answer the question directly whether you have such a program in line with the guidelines on deinstitualization, and on Article 20, and it seems that you have already covered it fully, but I would like to still ask whether these teams and assistance for personal help to persons with disabilities are free of charge or persons with disabilities have to pay something for the provision of these services.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Excellency, you have the floor.
I give the floor to the Ministry of Health.
To reply to the issue of aid and assistance.
I am from the Ministry of Health.
With respect to assistance provided to persons with disabilities who are Cary and non ary, this is the case without any conditions.
These individuals are exempt from any costs or fees in line with the legislation in force.
Now, could you discuss the institutionalization of persons with disabilities? Do you have any information to provide? We will reply to that question in writing following this session.
A question from Mr.
Cosi, and this was to do with individual aid or assistance.
As to individual aid.
Persons with disabilities can have access to it in all institutions in line with the specialization of each institution and in accordance with the regulations of each institution.
The law on Social Security provides an amount of money to persons with disabilities which enables them to have access to individual aid as to the costs.
For personal assistance or the obtention of services, these costs and fees do exist, generally speaking, but for persons with disabilities, the services are provided free of charge.
Thank you.
I'd simply like to stress the issue of personal assistance.
I'd like to know what the requirements are for a person with a disability has to fulfill.
To obtain a personal assistant in their home who helps them with their personal needs or supports them at work, for instance, I'd really like you to spell out the requirements to obtain a personal assistant.
Thank you.
With respect to those conditions, of course, we have medical conditions having provided a diagnosis.
Can you hear the interpretation? Can you hear interpretation? As to the conditions, first and foremost, we have a medical conditions and medical report to do with the case to ascertain whether the case requires a personal assistant.
Thus, we have a medical report and that must fulfill the first condition.
Secondly, when it comes to certificates from the employer, this is required to demonstrate to prove that the person needs an assistant.
The Ministry of Social Affairs through a letter from Social Security can point out that the individual requires a personal assistant when it comes to the ministry of the family.
It is that ministry which provides the salary for a personal assistant.
I would simply like to clarify one point.
It's important that you don't continue to think about a diagnosis for a person with a disability.
Because then we continue with the medicalized approach for persons with disabilities.
A person with a disability isn't necessarily diagnosed.
There's a need to assess The opportunities when it comes to daily life, but not a medical diagnosis.
That would be my recommendation.
Thank you very much, Chair.
As to the diagnosis, that is one of the conditions and the conditions are not restricted to a diagnosis.
Okay.
Can I speak now? Okay.
So if So as regards the medical diagnosis, it is one of the conditions amongst others.
What I said was by way of example.
When it comes to classification, if you will, we know that this classification is problematic internationally speaking, the classification of the disability as regards society, the family, the environment.
That is why the Ministry of Social Affairs is currently working towards drafting a unified standardized classification.
This isn't an easy task, but we are doing what is necessary.
Yes.
Thank you very much.
So Mr.
Amalia Camilo, do you finish your question? I think the second question.
Thank you for excellence and delegation to Lisbon about the close to two.
Now, I would like to give the floor to the member of the committee who is willing to give the question about the close to two.
Will you raise your name clerk? And task force another team if you have any more question about C two, No, there is no plug from the floor.
So before close the tools, I would like to give the opportunity to NHRI reply about the questions.
Do you feel fair ready to reply you have the floor now.
On behalf of God, the merciful, the compassionate.
We are very much mindful that these issues require further time to reply to them and we will get down to business at the end of the session and we will provide written answers electronically.
Thank you so much.
We class two.
Now, I would like to start on I will give proceed to Clause three covering Article 21 to 30.
I will give the floor to the task uppers to begin Clause three.
Mr.
Christopher Lanar, you have the floor to raise questions concerning Article 21 to 26.
You have the floor.
Delegates from Qatar, members of the committee, good morning.
I'm going to cover Article 21 to 26 and my colleague will complete the remaining one.
Just 1 minute.
Just 1 minute.
Okay.
Article 21 to 26.
Just 1 minute, please.
I can you one and 30 seconds, please.
Okay.
Oh.
Freedom of expression and opinion and access to information, Article 21.
Please inform the committee about whether the state parties recognizes and promote the use of categories sign language and measures taken to involve Categories deaf community and processes regarding sign language policies, projects, and activities.
The existing broadcasting services that are accessible to deaf persons, the development of publications, brow and provision of audio description, interpretation and captioning of video contents, respect for whom and family, Article 23.
Please provide information on the steps taken to review and amend legislations, restricting the rights of women with disabilities to marry, found a family, retain their fertility, and exercise their parental responsibilities.
Measures taken to prohibit the separation of children from their parents on the basis of disability of the child or one or both of the parents.
A funds available to families of persons with disabilities to raise their children at home.
Measures taken to prevent concealment, abandonment, neglect, and segregation of children with disabilities.
Education, Article 24.
Please provide information about the measures taken to adopt implement quality and inclusive education for persons with disabilities regardless of national origin, migrant status, or type of impairment, until your rate success from special education to inclusive education.
Measures taken to address the refusal to register students with disabilities and to ensure the enrollment of non catergories hard of hearing deaf children in nursery schools.
Mechanisms available to provide reasonable accommodation and individualized support to students with disabilities in mainstream schools.
Health, Article 25.
Please inform the committee about measures taken to ensure the provision of information on accessible formats concerning public health services and availability of sexual and reproductive health services for persons with disabilities, especially women and girls with disabilities.
Also, to train health professionals on the rights of persons with disabilities, to ensure the continuity of health services and treatment for persons with disabilities returning from other state parties.
Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation, Article 26.
Please provide information about measures taken to establish comprehensive rehabilitation and rehabilitation services in the community, covering physical, mental, social, and vocational aspects and issues to health related issues.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I leave the floor for the delegates to answer the questions.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Your Excellency, you have the floor to respond to your questions.
Respect delegation, I kindly ask you when you're responding, please mention which article you are responding to.
Please provide your response to Article 20 to 26.
Excellency, you have the floor.
Article 21, Ministry of Social Development.
Article 21A.
Qatar has sought to strengthen sign language.
The center for those with a hearing impairment and who are deaf teaches sign language to all categories, including civil servants and those employed in the public sector, as well as students and pupils.
The aim is to facilitate dialogue and discussions with persons with that disability.
F two training sessions and 38 training workshops were organized so as to familiarize people with sign language.
Over 1,450 people benefited from those sessions.
The Center for the Deaf also organizes welcome sessions for children aged 9-15 so as to teach them sign language.
This then enables them to be in contact with those with a hearing impairment and those who are deaf from a very young age.
The center also organizes 85 cultural events, 60 conferences and workshops, and 28 cultural competitions, 42 social activities and family activities, and 18 Handicraft exhibitions.
Over 3,000 people have attended those events so as to facilitate interactions between those with the hearing empairment who are deaf and society.
The Sign Language dictionary for the Arabic language was also launched and is circulating amongst all Arab countries.
This has been done in cooperation with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs.
Qatar is working to include those with hearing impairment and those who are deaf in all plans and strategies which are launched to develop sign language and also in all training programs.
The center has signed 26 memorandum of understanding and has launched 64 programs with 35 partners and governmental institutions as well as academia and civil society so as to familiarize those stakeholders with sign language.
The next speaker has the floor.
Mr.
Faisal, please.
With respect to the dissemination of information in a facilitated fashion for those with a visual and hearing impairment, we have adopted an international digital system so as to transcribe everything that is read out by subtitles, for instance.
The Katary Information Agency provides subtitling systematically.
In addition, people can listen to that information by choosing to read the newspaper in audio format.
We also have a Katary legislative bookshop.
This means that all persons with disability can request a text so as to meet their needs.
When it comes to Braille, it is disseminated amongst the main bodies across the country, particularly in the Qatary bookshop.
The publication of documents can occur in Braille so as to facilitate the reading of texts for those with a visual impairment.
The government also provides official Braille documents and the Qatari Center for the blind in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice, launched the International Day of Disability and published a law on disability in Braille.
Qatar is also working so as to provide audio visual services to persons with disabilities.
We provided the very first audio service during the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
It was the very first audio descriptive service made available by Qatar for persons with disabilities.
Those with a visual or hearing impairment were able then to follow the World Cup.
Qatar also adopted a gradual approach so as to institutionalization audio description and subtitling.
This is to strengthen family cohesion and cooperation.
We've also launched a platform which is called Tato.
We have also facilitated access of persons with disabilities to culture.
We have done this by disseminating membership and transcription and brail Thank you.
I am the president of the court to combat domestic violence on Article 23 on the legislation that restrict right of women with disabilities and empowering them to form families.
All relevant legislation do not provide the restriction of marriage by women with disabilities on the basis of marriage as such.
The main foundation of our society is to form families and disability does not restrict so.
This applies to everyone without discrimination.
Our legislation allows everyone to get married and to form families.
Equally without any discrimination in accordance with the legal guarantees that are provided by the law.
Also, law on the persons with disabilities number 22 of 2025 provides for the right of persons with disabilities to form marriage contracts without any coercion.
As long as they are physically and mentally fit to enter into a marriage contract, as well as the right to have children.
We also stressed that the state of Qatar continues the revision of its relevant national legislation in order for them to go in line with the CRPD so as to allow women with disabilities to enjoy their rights in marriage and motherhood and giving birth to children under full protection of the law in accordance with the law.
As for Article 23, on the measures taken in order not to separate children from their parents based on the disability of the child.
I give the floor to the Ministry of Social Protection.
I am a legal expert.
Disability, be it disability of the child or a parent does not in any form form a reason to separate children from their parents.
The family is the normal environment for a child to grow and prosper.
And this is always taken into account without any discrimination on the basis of disability.
No decision is taken to separate a child from their parent except in exceptional circumstances in order to provide protection for the child based on an individual assessment on a case by case basis in order to achieve the best interests of the child.
While never considering disability by itself, a restriction or a reason to separate children from their parents.
We provide different guidance, psychosocial support, in order to make it easier for the parents to take care of their children without needing to separate the child from his family.
We provide supportive measures for the child to stay in the family in line with the CRPD and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
As for Article 3, support given to the families who have children with disability, the state of Quadar has a full integrated system in order to help the families who have children with disabilities for them to be taken care of and raised in the family as follows, first, supportive family and social support and care, as well as rehabilitation, early intervention, psychosocial support, in all its forms, supporting the parents as well.
We have launched parental services that provide care in order to support the parents to understand the specific needs, pedagogic, physical, health, social needs of the child in accordance with the CRPD.
Also, health and rehabilitative support that includes the parents and caregivers in order to train them to meet the specific needs of the child and to use assistive technologies as well as following up a As the case may be, we provide the transition of the child to different institutions from the different institutions into the house and the school, and we provide help to children with autism and their parents for them to continue studying at school.
And the educational institutions provide children with disabilities with adequate services in full partnership between the specialists, the home, and the school.
Social protection and support of caregivers have followed the amendment of the human resource law that have extended parental leave for parents of children with disabilities for them to take care of children with disabilities or chronic diseases to reach up to five years.
Also, parental leave could be given to first degree members of the family if they have a disability or a disease that requires so for up to five years as well in full salary and allowances.
We provide a multidisciplinary approach that allows the parents to look after their children at home so that the child receives the educational psychosocial and health services and to enable the parents to provide all the services and help the child needs.
Article 23, Ministry of Family and Social Care.
Article 23D on the measures taken to provide children with disabilities with the necessary care.
The child with the disability has every right to live in a natural environment in their home and to protect them from segregation, abandonment, or neglect based on the disability.
This is based on an institutional system that aims to help the child and enable the family and the right of the child to care and integration into the society.
In this respect, the u Katary penal law, especially Article 296 prohibits abandoning or neglecting a child based on disability.
In this respect, the Ministry of Social Protection and family provides services of social protection and family support to the families with children with disabilities and provide social guidance in order for the disability to be accepted in the family and the society and to put an end to stereotypes and misconceptions that lead to the abandonment or isolation of such children.
Please slow down so that interpreters could do their job.
Thank you on behalf of the interpreters.
The competent authorities follow up the cases of abandonment, mistreatment, and neglect through the competent authorities in charge of protecting the children while taking necessary measures in coordination with health, educational and security authorities to safeguard the protection of the child and their receipt of all needed services in the society in order to achieve the child's best interest.
The state also enhances cooperation between the government authorities and civil society organizations for the children with disabilities and their families to receive the necessary support services in a manner that enables the families to take care of their children within the family and reduce the need to isolate them or institutionalize them.
Article 24, I give the floor to the representative of the Ministry of Education, doctor Fatma.
Or in charge of the Ministry of Education on the rights of children with disabilities as regards the qualitative education for children with disabilities.
It is provided in full equality, irrespective of the national social origin, the integrated, inclusive education is provided in all schools in order to unify practices and secure the provision of protection in accordance with the individual needs of the child regardless of the type of disability or origin from preschool to year 12, including children with learning difficulties in order for them to have a full right to education on an equal basis in schools.
That provide such services at 110 schools and the number of children who receive this service are 4,539.
The number of children who are from other nationalities constitute a recognizable percentage.
We provide support and individual pedagogic plans to include parents and caregivers.
We provide assistive services.
And the programs on life skills in addition to reasonable accommodation services.
And the government provides accessible facilities at school, it trains the teaching faculty, and it takes measures in order to put an end to the refrain from registering children with disabilities at school.
The right to education is the The interpretation is asking for the speaker to please slow down.
Thank you.
The right to education is provided to all children in the state of Qatar.
Education is compulsory and free of charge in government schools.
Legislation and educational policies do not provide any exception in the case of disabilities.
Enrollment, registration, and the provision of educational services is based on equality and non discrimination on the base of the disability, on the registration of deaf children and children with hearing disabilities.
The Ministry of Education has taken measures so that such children are never denied access to education, including children who are from other nationalities, the non categories, starting the preschool.
Level.
There is a center that provides such services, including for non catery children.
We are providing reasonable accommodation services in government public schools.
We have numeric platforms for children with disabilities and we provide sources of accessible education.
For example, braille books in all levels of education, as well as other numeric sources.
We also provide education for children with hearing disabilities and specialized videos.
We have assistive technologies that are tailored to the needs of children.
Over 740 such services are provided in public schools, as well as 106 in specialized schools.
And Assistive technology platforms are established to train teachers in the use of such modern technology.
We also provide assistive measures in accordance with the needs of the children, and we provide also sign language interpreters or reading assistance if needed so that the disability does not constitute a barrier to education.
As for Article 25, I give the floor to the representative of the Ministry of Health, doctor Sal Ki, advisor of the Ministry of Public Health on the provision of health care services.
The State of Canada provides all comprehensive health services to everyone, including primary health care and the health of family mothers and children, reproductive health, prenatal and postnatal care, as well as early diagnosis, vaccinations, psychosocial support according to the needs of every person, including the persons with disabilities, and we provide information that are accessible in accordance with the type of disability and the needs of the individual.
As regards vocational training for the persons with disabilities, the State of Qatar also enhances training and awareness raising on the rights of persons with disabilities.
We have training programs that include the rights of persons with disabilities in light of the CME program on continuing vocal vocational training in order to respect the independence and dignity of persons with disabilities and the principle of informed prior consent.
We have also training courses for service providers in order to apply La number 16 of 2016 and training in order to protect from violence and reduce school dropping.
This year 2026, about 574 trainees received this training in the Hamad Health Center in the field of prevention and putting an end to aggression and family domestic violence.
Regarding Article 25 to provide ongoing services and treatment to persons with disabilities who are coming from other countries overseas.
This is carried out and followed up before departure and continues until after the return.
Each person is assigned a doctor to follow up on their condition.
They also follow up with them during their trip abroad so as to make sure that services are not interrupted and they are carried out in accordance with the special needs of each person.
They are followed up as soon as they arrive to the country for the service provision not to be disrupted in accordance with the specific needs of the person during the trip and providing advantages, for example, upgrades to the business class, to the persons with disabilities to provide them with a person to accompany them, and even to, if the case may require so.
As for Article 26, regarding the provision of a comprehensive services on the rehabilitation into the local communities.
This is carried out through the national program and CRS, which is one of the main pathways to provide rehabilitation services.
It provides rehabilitative multidisciplinary services in order to provide for safe transition from the hospital into the community and the family through a community rehabilitation program in cooperation with the Katy Rehabilitation Center and the Hamad Medical Center as well as home and home care and primary care facilities.
This system includes home visits, assistive technologies, training of family members, and follow up and remote care in order to expand on the provision of specialized services.
Recently, we opened a specialized support clinic for persons with autism in order to provide additional services.
The data from 2025 reflect the number of services our center has received the 6,200 cases and the um it has received also 25 cases of non cateres.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
I would like to thank the expert for your question and comments and the representative of the state party for the Lisbon and explanation for by Now we will take a 15 minutes break.
We shall reconvec at 11:16 A.M.
And continue to cross the street.
Thank you so much.
I I The committee will continue agenda item five I So now we will proceed to C three, combining Article 27 to 30.
Before we start, I would like to give the floor to the Excellency.
Thank you.
I would like to ask my colleagues to provide short answers that will be presented at a reasonable pace so that interpreters can manage to provide interpretation.
To the task force to begin C three again.
Mr.
Abdel Majim Makhni to raise a question concerning Article 27 to 30.
Mr.
Makhi, you have the floor.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I would like to thank the delegation for the answers that were provided to us.
As that would make it possible for us to better understand the situation in the country.
Qatar is working to improve the situation of human rights of persons with disabilities on questions of employment and work.
Article 27.
I would like to find out what are the measures taken by Qatar? To implement Article 27 and to ensure that persons with disabilities have the right to participate in public life, be involved in the labor market.
What are the measures that are applied to provide persons with disabilities with employment? Because in some countries The state provides employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, but they forget about a period of time that we would call before employment, pre employment in order to ensure that persons with disabilities are in position to carry out that work.
What measures are taken to ensure reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities to carry out a certain function or certain work.
A question now about migrants.
Once again, what are the measures or opportunities provided to persons that become a person with disabilities? How can you guarantee employment and also guarantee the employment in a sustainable manner? My third question, women with disabilities.
What are the measures taken to ensure that they are empowered to exercise their employment opportunities and also do that in a systematic manner? I will limit myself to this set of questions for the time being.
As the head of the delegation said, I would like to receive brief replies that can be interpreted.
Thank you.
I give the floor to the Ministry of Employment and Labor.
Mr.
Mahmoud Sadiq, I'd like to thank Mr.
Makne for these very specific questions.
Now, the first enter related to increasing the percentage of persons with disabilities in the labor market, the opportunities that are provided, the integration of public and private employment.
We take measures and reasonable accommodation to facilitate access to the labor market.
Now, there is a quota for the employment of persons with disabilities.
Employers are obliged to provide reasonable accommodation at the workplace for persons with disabilities, the number of persons with disabilities that have been appointed in the public sector in 2006 and 43%, and then 40% in 2025.
And the nominations for 2026 were 20 persons with disabilities in the public sector.
The number of women with disabilities, and this is an answer to one of the questions raised by the expert demonstrate the interest that we have ensuring employment for women with disabilities.
In 2025, 25 women were appointed in comparison to 15 men with disabilities.
These appointments covered persons with disabilities depending on the type of disability, whether visual, motor, et cetera This shows a comprehensive approach that is applied by Qatar in order to ensure the integration of persons with disabilities regardless of the type of disability.
Until 2025, the overall number of persons with disabilities employed in governmental services has reached the figure of 800 persons.
1% of the active work force in the public sector.
They work in the area of health, education, energy, culture, sport, communication, justice, municipal affairs.
Trade and other areas.
This means that persons with disabilities are integrated in the public service regardless of the type of activity or the sector of activity.
Qatar also coordinates with other stakeholders, working towards the creation of a single platform in order to train persons with disabilities, in order to provide accompaniment from the very beginning of a work interview to their employment, and then guaranteeing the sustainability of their employment.
Also, these persons with disabilities receive assistance from other persons as they search for work in the interview that is carried out.
In the first version of the program of Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities was already established in 2025.
13 persons benefited from this program and five persons with disabilities received specialized training and this program will be resumed in 2026.
Human resources are also trained to work with persons with disabilities in order to better respond to their needs.
In the private sector, the Ministry of Labor encourages the recruitment of persons with disabilities and provides them With work opportunities.
Employers are encouraged to respect the laws on disabilities and ensure that they fulfill the quotas related to the recruitment of persons with disabilities.
Thank you.
Per Cog representing persons with disabilities.
Providing reasonable accommodation, for instance, providing a digital environment, transcription, audio transcription or subtitling.
All of this makes it possible to facilitate the lives of persons with disabilities.
I would also mention an audio announcement that is made in lifts.
This has made it possible to benefit from a very rich working environment in multinationals.
My own professional background began in 2012 when I joined Mesk Oil in Qatar.
As a result of a reasonable accommodation provided, I obtained the position of legal counselor or legal advisor in 2015, and I was promoted in 2018.
I worked up until 2018 with Musk oil, and then I wanted to engage in another challenge.
I worked with the Oil Company of the North and I was promoted in 2019 to become the first legal counselor.
In 2026, I was promoted to become a senior legal advisor.
These are the opportunities provided to persons with disabilities to climb up the ranks.
The reasonable accommodation that I benefited from and which was provided to me end made it possible for the barriers to be removed and to pave the way for a professional background and also promotions.
As to employment, Qatar has welcomed 1,500 people amongst those who were injured in Gaza.
We hosted them to provide them with necessary medical aid.
At the same time, we offered them job opportunities.
Therefore, they moved from a patient status, if you will, to a citizen status, and they have a normal life.
That's the information that I wanted to give you.
Let's see, Mr.
Mata Mr.
McNa, we very much hope that the professional and personal background would be made available to a larger number of persons.
Sir, you are representing persons with disabilities.
Could you give us more details about your situation? Who do you represent? Well, here we are discussing what is being made available to all persons with disabilities in Qatar and not simply to one person in Qatar.
My apologies for that comment.
I'll move to Article 28.
Mr.
Koury, can I continue to answer the questions raised? C and E? Reasonable accommodation for workers, including persons with disabilities.
These are commonplace and applied to all persons with disabilities.
Particularly when it comes to transitional programs, empowerment programs, financial aid is also given when required.
Qatar is seeking to directly integrate persons with disabilities into the labor market.
We roll out vocational training programs and inclusive employment programs so that the economic participation of persons with disabilities is on the same footing as those with other citizens.
We are working towards Changing the situation of persons with disabilities from an assisted employment to independent employment.
That is why we provide support and we encourage projects to be launched within entrepreneurship because all of this promotes the financial independence of persons with disabilities.
It enhances their participation in economic activities.
Persons with disabilities benefit from programs For entrepreneurs, they also benefit from professional guidance programs, as well as the establishment of SMEs and also participation in economic activity.
My way of conclusion, I can reaffirm that measures have been taken to guarantee an appropriate working environment for persons with disabilities.
The new law of 2025 compels employers to guarantee a working environment which meets the needs of persons with disabilities.
So that they can work properly and appropriately.
In addition, persons with disabilities benefit from a specific work timetable and on average, they work 25% less depending on their disability.
During recruitment, during hiring, rather, persons with disabilities, their conditions are set forth and we work on the basis of the needs identified.
Other public buildings have also been a change so as to facilitate access of persons with disabilities.
I'll give the floor also to Faisal.
To reply to Mr.
Macne, I would point out that today there is a representative of persons with disabilities in general.
However, the example I gave was simply to illustrate the importance and the extremely important nature of reasonable accommodation in the lives of persons with disabilities.
Now, there are a lot of people like myself in various sectors.
Legislation also regulates the recruitment procedures and the legislation is available to support and bolster reasonable accommodation.
This enables persons with disabilities to benefit from employment opportunities on the same footing as other citizens.
Can you continue your question? Um sorry, there is no interpretation now.
Okay.
Would you repeat your question? Okay.
Article 28, particularly with respect to social protection, I have a question there.
We're well aware that the state of Qatar attaches major importance to social protection and that the state provides a whole raft of services to persons with disabilities.
I have a question.
What services do you not provide to persons with disabilities, which they in fact need, particularly when it comes to social protection? Me, allow me to answer this question because you're asking about what's missing.
Regarding persons with disabilities, it is not a slogan when we say nothing about us without us.
Hence, I always have to consult with persons with disabilities and this is what I will do this time as well in order to know their needs and what's missing so as to answer your question comprehensively.
Thank you.
As you have allowed me to speak about participation and inclusion, especially political life and public life, Article 29, that is, I wonder Regarding political participation, what are the tools and the mechanisms that are available to persons with disabilities for them to practice their right to take part in policies that affect them and to take part in shaping public policies? How does this happen? Are there any mechanisms put forward to facilitate such participation? I give the floor to Mr.
Hamad from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Article 29.
Hamdswedy Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Could you please raise your voice? Hamad Swedy from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Regarding Article 29, holding public offices and taking part in voting, regarding the right of persons with disabilities.
These are a number of objectives including the right to take part in their society comprehensively and effectively.
Competent authorities have to make sure persons with disabilities practice all their lives, political, civil, cultural, social and economic Article 9 provides for the rights to practice their political rights, including taking part in elections without any restrictions while providing reasonable accommodation so as they could participate effectively and that their disability would not form a barrier.
As for the Shura Consultative Council law number six of 2021 and the law of the municipal council number two or number 12 of 1998 and its amendments, Qatary Citizens have the right to stand for elections and to nominate candidates without any exclusion based on the disability, as well as Article 20 of decree number 17 of 1998.
The committee that organizes elections affairs also facilitates the participation of persons in general, especially persons with disabilities by providing them with reasonable accommodation and enable them to take part effectively in voting and elections in all stages of the electoral process and to provide them with all the necessary support during voting and elections and to provide them with accessible services and information.
Could we listen now to Mr.
Faisal? Thank you very much.
Regarding the experts question on the main measures taken to enhance the participation of persons with disabilities in the political sphere.
In addition to what Mr.
Hamad has said, I would like to point out to three measures taken first, the right of persons with disabilities in receiving help in case they cannot vote or cannot have an electoral card issued.
I have a personal experience in this respect and it was positive.
There is also an initiative by the committee that organizes elections in 2021.
In addition to the electoral centers, an additional one has been added that serves older persons and persons with disabilities who are unable to go to the regular voting polling centers where they are registered.
In addition, to the regular choice.
The person with a disability has two choices, either to go to the polling station or the center where they are registered or to the one that's accessible.
There are also amendments that have been introduced in 2024 and they have provided two tracks.
First, one, of personal attendance to the polling places where reasonable accommodation has been provided.
In addition to an electronic track where persons with disabilities can vote electronically for those who are unable for any reason to reach the voting center and being a visually impaired person.
Myself, I have benefited from such services.
I've taken part in the referendum on the constitutional amendments by easy accessible means.
The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, please answer regarding Article 29, Abdel Rahman representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In addition to what was said, we are keen to provide accessible means in accordance with law number 22 of 2025 on persons with disabilities, especially Article 9, that provides for the right of persons with disabilities to practice their political rights and Article 10, the right to form organizations and private institutions and to accede to them under the right of association.
And to nominate themselves as well according to the legal means.
The Ministry of Social Development and family being the competent authority in charge of supervising the implementation of the law in coordination with other competent authorities enhances such activities.
Thank you.
Thank you very much for all these clarifications that enlighten me personally and enable me to understand better what is going on in Qatar.
I have a question now on Article 30.
Article 30 I would like to know more about what Cutter provides in order to help the participation of persons with disabilities in all fields, cultural and sports.
I have a question.
Regarding the Treaty of Marrakesh, whether it has been ratified and what does Qatar do in order to implement the Treaty of Marrakesh.
Thank you.
The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Article 30, please proceed.
Regarding the Marrakesh Treaty.
After we have acceded to such a treaty in 2018, we have taken a number of treaties to facilitate the access of persons with visual disabilities and other disabilities to read publications and other books and information as well as cultural services.
Would you like me to restart? Okay.
After Qatar has acceded to the Treaty of Marrakesh in 2018, the state has taken a number of measures in order to enhance the access of persons with visual disabilities and other disabilities to read, publication and other books and information and cultural services, and it has issued the Qatar National Library and other specialized centers, for example, the Meda Center that has a number of programs as well as audio books written in Brile and others in large script, for example, and it updates such services and it organizes a number of workshops and training services in coordination with the Meda Center to facilitate access to cultural services and sources of knowledge.
As for the audio visual materials, the National Library of Qatar provides their beneficiaries the opportunity to exceed digital data bases that include audio books, electronic books, and visual books as well as other audio visual teaching materials that go in line with the right to assistive technologies, which enhances the opportunities to accessed to cultural and educational content for persons with disabilities.
Thank you.
Mr.
Mon, you finished your question.
Now, I would like to give the f to the again, task force team about the cluster three.
Mr.
Christopher Nanard, you have the floor for the follow up question about your article.
Thank you, Madam Chair and distinguished members of the delegation.
I have some questions beginning from Article 21 and 24, 25 and 29.
I will start with Article 2021.
So concerns sign language interpreters.
So I don't know the number of sign language interpreters that the Qatar have trained to ensure communication for deaf persons in Qatar.
And secondly, when you talk about the training of the sign language interpreters, I don't know how sensitive they are when it comes to gender, ensuring that both male and female are trained to ensure that communication will be accessible for our deaf brothers and sisters in Qatar.
Then in the area of brow, so I don't know the number of areas or centers that provide bra in Qatar and the number of persons trained in order to ensure that people with blindness and low vision will have access to both audio and brail facilities.
Then when it comes to Article 25, they've spoken very, very well.
But the area I would like them to ellucidate more is on the area of training of health practitioners.
Because I observed that in most cases, the health practitioners, when they meet persons with disabilities, say, for instance, a blind person or a deaf person, Because they are not trained assigning issues of sign language and there may not be sign language interpreter in the hospital, it becomes very difficult for them to assist this person.
So in this area is where I would like people to elucidate more.
So when it comes to area of education, Article 24, we observe that specialist teachers, I don't know how many of them that are involved in inclusive education, Because when they leave special schools and go straight to inclusive education where they mix up with other students, do we have enough duct do you have enough special teachers like that will take care of persons with disabilities, the blind, the low vision, the, you know, hearing impaired people, the deaf and all that.
So these are the things I would like you to answer, but finally, I'll go to Article 29.
I don't know whether there is a special quota reserved for persons with disabilities in politics.
Because in some countries like my country, a certain percentage is reserved for persons with disabilities who are interested in going into politics.
If you have such, how many of these persons are occupying some political positions in Qatar, both male and female.
If you don't have such, what efforts are people putting in place to ensure inclusivity in political and public life in Qatar? Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Thank you so much, Mr.
Christopher, Excellency, would you response his question about the 201-20-5209? If you allow me just 2 minutes so I can consult with my team to divide the answers.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Mr.
Maoni, do you have any palo question about your no? If I may answer.
Do you ready to reply? Yes, please.
Ready to reply on 21.
If you dialog regarding sign language interpretation.
Of course, sign language is not an easy language to acquire and we don't have a specific figures about their numbers, but we have assistive technologies.
If an actual interpreter is absent, at least we have sign language interpreters devised by the MADA Center.
We have the Skun application, which is a technological solution for persons with hearing disabilities to enhance their interaction and independent participation.
This comes under the unified initiative between the State of Qatar and the League of Arab States so that because the sign language is not the same in all Arab countries, which is an additional challenge to find interpreters so that the interpretation is understood in Arabic in general.
Hence, the Sign Language dictionary Skun has been introduced, as well as the Buhamd application, which is one of the creations of the Meda Technology Center.
As for the quotas in the access of persons with disabilities to seats or to employment in political positions, I give the floor to my colleague.
Sgaran satis.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair on the question of quotas.
In terms of access for persons with disabilities, I'd like to say that there are no predetermined percentages in Qatar as far as political or other posts are concerned.
Doors are open to all persons in Qatar without any discrimination based on disability or any other grounds.
Everyone can assume these functions.
We have a very large number of persons with disabilities who work in political posts, something that we are proud of.
The head of the delegation.
I give the floor to the representative of the Ministry of Education related to questions of training.
Thank you.
I work in the Ministry of Education in the Unit for Inclusive Education.
The training of sign language interpreters, they're interpreters in inclusive schools for persons with auditive disabilities.
As far as training of relevant personnel and teaching staff is concerned, they're trained in sign language in cooperation with the Training Center for development of capacities in our ministry on the certification of sign language interpreters.
We have Arabic certification in this area.
Thank you.
So much.
Miss Amalia Camo, you have the floor.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I have some doubts.
Article 23, you talked about the fact that there are no restrictions for persons of disabilities to establish families and to marry.
But you also said if they're capable of doing that and from this, I infer that persons with intellectual disabilities or psychosocial disabilities are not Rather, they do not have this ability to marry and to start a family, something that runs counter to the convention.
That is my first question.
The second question relates to Article 25.
If courses are provided on sexual and reproductive health in accessible formats to women and girls with disabilities.
I'd like to find out what that is the case and on Article 24, it seems to me that special education continues to be the most dominant form of education.
Perhaps, you may have thought of establishing a national plan for inclusive education.
Finally, on Article 27, it seems to me that you still have protective workshops that runs counter to our general observation in Article 28 related to what is the state party doing to ensure a project of a transition from these protected workshops to regular employment.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
To prepare the answers, I would like to give the floor to miss Rhaposli Thank you very much.
Chair, I have two questions on Articles 25 and 26.
There are certain concerns related to log rehabilitation services that are provided to children with disabilities.
Some of them are funded from public sector, and that is apparently not sufficient to provide the support to children with disabilities.
And those families that have the means go to the private sector to receive this type of support.
Can you refer to the article, please? Yes, I'm referring to Article 25.
There is a gap in terms of rehabilitation services.
There's a gap between what is provided by the private and public sectors.
Could you please tell us what are the wait times to receive rehabilitation services for children with disabilities? And what are the times for providing treatment in the public sector in comparison to the private sectors and also what is being done to train the staff of rehabilitation centers and in connection with those services provided by the private sector to children with disabilities because it seems that the public sector is not providing sufficient services to accompany children with disabilities.
I have another question related to Article 26.
Their pediatric services through et cetera centers, but we have concerns in terms of the continuity of rehabilitation services after the first evaluation is carried out.
It seems that in most cases, children go to the Ma Hospital to have therapy support in a continuous manner.
We see that support provided through medical services is something that is normal and we'd like to have some clarifications related to guarantees to ensure that these rehabilitation services are provided in an adequate manner and to respond to the needs of children with disabilities.
We have received some of the relevant information in terms of rehabilitation services related to long wait times and the services provided, the differences between the levels of services that are provided between the different medical centers.
I'd like to also find out what are the results of these rehabilitation services provided to children.
Would you from miss Amalia Camo's question and after that, miss rehabs questions.
Thank you so much.
Su.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
On the question that was posed.
On the obstacles related to marriages for women and men with disabilities, I'd like to say that Article 7 of the law on persons with disabilities from 2025 resolved this issue in a very clear manner.
Persons with disabilities have the right to contract marriages and they have the possibility to start a family, to have children.
And there's respect for all of the rights that are enshrined in the law.
In terms of other legislation related to serious mental disabilities, we do not talk about in this legislation, these individuals as persons with disabilities, we talk about the need to have consent and legal guarantees that are necessary for marriage.
Thank you, the head of the delegation.
Thank you very much.
Now, on training in terms of reproductive health, I give the floor to representative of the Ministry of Health.
Thank you.
I represent the Ministry of Health.
We have said earlier that services are provided to all persons living in Qatar told citizens in terms of reproductive health in a comprehensive manner regardless of the type of disability, that of delegation.
I believe that there was a third part of questions that were raised.
Now, are there any questions that we have not provided answers to? Mr.
Makoni, I would like to give the question to miss Amalia.
Do you think you receive the question.
Thank you.
Yes.
The only question that remains standing of the so called protective workshops that run counter to the conventions and I'm wondering if you have any programs related to the transition to regular employment for persons with disabilities.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Would you please.
A Jabs Nir Matthew arm.
I give the floor to the Ministry of Labor to discuss protected workplaces.
Thank you.
I'd like to say that we have capacity building when it comes to appointments.
The aim of this is to prepare everyone to have the ability to incorporate the labor market.
There is also another aim and it's to ensure that people have necessary training so that they can take up their jobs on the labor market in a very smooth fashion.
We have reasonable accommodation, which is mentioned in the law.
This reasonable accommodation does not target protection, but rather empowerment.
These people with disabilities can work sustainably, therefore, Head of delegation.
Thank you very much.
When it comes to medical centers and transfer of one medical center to another, I give the floor to the Ministry of Health.
You have the floor.
Thank you, doctor Merriam, for your questions.
In Qatar, we are aware that some families face challenges when it comes to diagnosis and habilitation services, and this is as a result of a number of reasons.
There are several programs for early detection.
We have clinics for children in good health and we are aiming to guarantee early detection and provide those services.
We are striving to ensure that there is complementarity between medical centers whether they be general or specialized between the public and private sectors, we are improving the skills of medical staff so that waiting times are limited.
I have some figures I'd like to mention as regards to waiting times.
But before that, I wish to state that urgent cases are dealt with urgently and their treatment is provided to all without discrimination based on nationality or other grounds.
We examine the clinical grounds.
We have a waiting day 8-20 days.
Since October 2025, we have an implementation plan to reduce waiting times.
This is one of our priorities for the healthcare sector.
The measures that we have taken have reduced the number of cases placed on a waiting list.
We have moved 439-236 cases in two months.
We have a standardized transfer system in line with the clinical issues and other issues.
The aim is to provide medical health care before any other consideration.
Thank you very much.
Thank you so much.
Now, I would like to give the floor to task team, Mr.
Abden Mai Magna.
You have the floor.
After that, non task team member of the committee, Mr.
Heros Karman Andy Guthrie performance and Mr.
Floyd Morris, I will give the floor for your question.
And then finally, miss Natalia.
So please, Abdul, you have the floor.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'd like to come back to a question under Article 7.
You said that Article 7 enables men and women to take part in social life automatically.
At the same time, I'm wondering whether there isn't a contradiction here with Article 12 of our convention.
Article 12 mentions legal capacity.
Don't you find that there is a contradiction between this? At the same time, when we talk about the rehabilitation of persons working in sheltered or protected workshops, we are talking about people who contribute to economic life.
Thus, I would like to know whether their contribution is individual or is this participation that happens through the family or through guarantors.
That hasn't been made clear.
Now, if we come back to legal capacity, We are saying that these people need to have economic rights.
They must be able to enjoy economic rights automatically.
I'd like to know how you address all of those issues.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
With respect to participation in economic life, we will address this and I'll give the floor to the Supreme Council of the Judiciary.
Mr.
Faisel.
As regards participation in economic life, I wish to state that persons with disabilities in Qatar participate in economic life through their work or through other economic activities.
This is in line with their legal personality.
We're not talking about the intervention of the family, and therefore, they are independent and autonomous persons with disabilities enjoy this independence so as to carry out economic activities through their legal personality.
Thank you.
Thank you.
You have the floor.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr.
Al Makhni discussed a contradiction between Article 7 of our law on persons with disabilities and what is covered in the convention from the viewpoint of principles.
As I said, Article 7 of the Law on Persons with Disabilities clearly stipulates that persons with disabilities can enter into marriage and can have children.
This article covers the various rights that are mentioned in your convention.
At the same time, this article discusses a number of exceptions mentioned in other legislation.
These exceptions, do not pertain to persons with disabilities alone.
They are exceptions that are covered in Qatary legislation.
Whilst taking account of the situation of persons in society, I am thinking of a serious mental disability.
We're not talking about persons with disabilities in that respect.
Thank you so much.
Now, I would like to give the floor to non member of the committee.
Mr.
Hirojtaman, you have the floor.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
My question is in regards to those who are deaf and blind.
For those who are deaf and blind, those are two different disabilities, visual impairment and hearing impairment.
My question is, do you have special measures put in place for their special needs of communication, whether it be tactile sign language, which is when they use their hands to communicate through touch or any other things in place.
My second question is for article number 21.
Is there any system put in place for those who are deaf blind to use so that they can communicate better, whether again, be tactile sign language or an interpreter system, is there anything in place for them to communicate? Now I have a question for article number 24 for education.
I'm wondering if deaf blind individuals have any measures in place for their access to communication.
Support systems do you have in place for them when they go to school to learn? Thank you very much.
Thank you so much.
Miss Gpopome, you have the floor.
Thank you very much, Chair.
My are follow up questions.
One is to on Article 21.
What steps are in place to make state websites accessible to persons who are visually impaired and to what extent do we have easy read? Which is the former that is friendly to most persons with psychosocial and intellectual disability.
What mechanisms are there to monitor its effectiveness? Article 28, I am aware that you have a level of social protection schemes.
Can you please enlighten us of how disability related parts are covered in the existing schemes? Article 29, I might have missed it, but I remember there was a question about number of persons with disability in parliament and the number which are women.
I don't remember hearing the answer.
I'm interested and apologies if you were to repeat.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Mr.
Floyd Morris, you have the floor.
Thank you very much Mad Chair.
I just want to ask a question because I take note that this is the second to fourth periodic report of the state party and there were concluding observations that were issued from the first state party report and The concluding observation from my reading, at the core of it constituted issues rotating around accessibility and reasonable accommodation.
And here, from the committee's standpoint and through general comment on accessibility, Accessibility is an ex ante duty, which means that once a service is being offered to the public, it must be made accessible to persons with disabilities.
Reasonable accommodation is an excellent duty, which once the service is requested by an individual with a disability, it should be provided.
Now, I have heard a lot of discussions here and some even bothering and bombast.
I would like to know from the state party on a scale of one to ten, How do you rank yourself in terms of accessibility and reasonable accommodation? It's a simple question on a scale of one to ten, how do you rank yourself? It's 20 years now since the CRP PD has been established.
It's your fourth periodic report.
You are in a good position to tell us where are you in terms of accessibility and reasonable accommodation.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Miss Natalia Aguala, you have the floor.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you very much also to the delegation for the replies.
I'd like to raise a number of questions related to Article 27, employment.
It has been said that persons with disabilities employed in the public sector reaches 1% of the workforce of that sector.
The data of people with disabilities who are economically active without employment reaches 70% in Qatar.
My question is as follows.
Regardless of the laws that have been adopted and these have been explained yesterday and today, how do these measures ensure that persons with disabilities have access to employment? Now, the population that is unemployed, persons with disabilities, that is, is very high.
What measures or policies in practice are you planning to adopt to increase the number of persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors.
Now, on Article 28, I'd like to ask the delegation whether you could tell us about the percentage of the state budget, which is earmarked to policies for persons with disabilities.
Within the projects and plans that have been listed and which are underway, how do you measure the impact to enhance the economic, social, and political participation of persons with disabilities? What mechanisms have you implemented in Qatar to assess the impact of plans and programs and policies? For example, legislation, but also other areas of the public sector.
You told us about that yesterday and also this morning.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Mr.
Magino Lorenzo, you have the floor.
Mr.
Magino, you have the floor.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I'd like to extend greetings to the Qatary delegation.
I'd like to ask a number of questions.
I think it's been very positive that Natalia has taken the floor because actually she asked a question that I wanted to ask about investment.
That is to say, Qatary investment in disability.
Now, I'd like to know and this question relates to Article 30.
I'd like to know whether as part of your tourism policy, persons with disabilities participate in the tourism business as businessmen, as tour guides.
Do you have any figures, any statistics of international tourists with disabilities who visit Qatar? Yes.
Does Qatar have any companies and do you have any ramps for buildings? I'd like to know the percentage of y tourists as well with a disability.
I'd also very much be interested in knowing about the policies that you have in place for adapted sports.
What indicators can you provide us with when it comes to sports, men and women, Could you tell us about the number of sportspersons who participate in adapted sports in Qatar? I'd also like to know whether community rehabilitation takes into account adapted sports to promote it in the community.
I'd like to know whether there are any links between the Paralympics, for example, with rehabilitation programs in the community.
Lastly, can persons with disabilities express themselves artistically? What is the artistic expression of persons with disabilities in Qatar? Finally, this is the 20th anniversary of our convention.
It would be very important for us to hear from you about what the last 20 years have meant for Qatar.
Has the convention been promoted in the country? What are the indicators of the change of culture, the change in language, the respect for the dignity of persons with disabilities? Has there been any dissemination that can be easily understood for persons with disabilities in the country and their families as well? Also, do you have any type of commemoration plan in mind? Thank you very much.
Thank you so much.
Lastly, I would like to give the floor to miss Gerardur Thank you, Chair.
I have two questions.
One is the follow up and second is a new question.
Yesterday we talked about how the state party pay attention to make all existing legislation fully compliant with the Commission.
Of course, it takes time.
We need a really effective mechanism to do all these things.
Even newly developed legislation must be developed based on the human approach to disability.
In order to all these things, we need a good mechanism because it's not one time activity.
The relating this my first question is, I would like to more about, even you talked about these things yesterday, what kind of a mechanism in place in your country to ensure that all the world newly developed legislation program and other policies concerning the persons with disabilities are fully compliant with the CRPD and the world the human rights approach to disability.
I would like to exist the mechanism, these things.
The second question is related to the Article 9.
I would like to know, to what extent accessibility features, including physical accessibility, information and communication, and other things are considered in the public procurement because a lot of things procured by the public and persons with disabilities use those things.
My second question is these things.
Thank you very much.
Thank you so much.
Excellency, you received too many questions from our colleagues.
So the time limit, I would like to suggest that you please respond until 12 45.
If the delegation is unable to respond to a question within the allocated time, may I kindly requested and remain response including any outstanding related to all question from the committee which you submit in writing within 24 hours.
Now you have the floor to respond.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair and thank you for these important questions.
On tactile devices.
I would like to say that numerous technological solutions are provided tactile bridle systems, audio tactile systems that are based on artificial intelligence.
Innovations made it possible to find technological solutions that are easy to use and that facilitate the lives of persons with disabilities.
Now, on the assessments of public buildings, the MADA Center evaluates public buildings on the basis of accessibility.
Research or reviews are carried out with special machines or with the contributions of persons with disabilities themselves to ensure that buildings are readily accessible.
This is how we make it possible for persons with disabilities to have access to the Internet and to digital technologies in a much simpler way.
There is an international classification for Qatar as far as digital accessibility is concerned.
We also In 2020 reached the first place in terms of digital accessibility under this classification.
Now, in terms of access to public buildings, access is based on international plans.
Now, in terms of measuring the impact of our different programs, we take into account the number of persons who have been trained, the number of persons involved are covered by the programs, we publish the results that have been achieved.
We look at the number of centers that ensured access for persons with disabilities, number of persons that benefited from training activities, and the results are based on the following conclusions.
Has employment been made easier for persons with disabilities? Were there empowerment that was achieved? And this is done by the MTA Center and long term results are quite numerous and we're not really simply limiting ourselves to the number of persons benefiting from the services, but we are focusing on improving the quality of their lives to ensure access to social services, their level of satisfaction in terms of the services that they receive in terms of sports.
Currently, persons with disabilities are involved in pampic activities, and some of the persons participate in swimming activities, ping pong, basketball, and football.
On the question of tourism, I give the floor to the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Article 30.
Cultural coverage and tourist activities.
We empower persons with disabilities in a continuous manner, and this is an integral part of our tourism development program in Qatar.
Tourism is based on reasonable accommodation in order to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to hotels and tourist centers.
This means that we are providing S entrances that have the relevant sign information for persons with disabilities.
All tourist information is adapted to the needs of persons with disabilities, and also special rest areas and facilities are provided.
We've improved the quality of the services that we provide through the special training of relevant employees, and we also make the necessary contributions and the relevant support to persons with disabilities to ensure that they can benefit from all types of activities related to tourism.
We work with the Katifn Association for Social employment in order to make better known the phenomenon of global tourism.
In 2026 We work towards the creation of an environment that is more responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities and we coordinate our work since 2020 with the MADA Center because the center uses programs and strategies in order to ensure the empowerment of persons with disabilities and improve their integration into society.
The Qatary Tourist Bureau plays the role of the link between the different ministries in order to ensure that accessibility is guarantees and that tourism is valued.
We also ensure the accreditation of tourist officers, taking into account the needs of persons with disabilities and the importance of ensuring accessibility.
We have implemented the, um, purple Saturday initiative aimed at improving accessibilities.
This is an event that takes place for two weeks every year in order to provide support to persons with disabilities with focus on their rights.
This event makes it possible to make purchases, to enjoy the different types of activities and we try to have a more global and inclusive event.
More than 16,000 person with disabilities benefited from these programs.
Thank you.
Regarding budgets, programs and initiatives related to persons with disabilities are carried out through the public annual budgets of the governments, each within their competence in accordance with the budgets of the state to fund the activities and programs related to social empowerment and to support the associations that provide services to persons with disabilities in order for those programs and services to be sustainable.
The state of Qatar is based on integrating the rights of persons with disabilities and their needs in their national planning strategies, programs, and budgets, and not to deal with disabilities as the responsibility of a single sector out of our responsibility towards the CRPD.
As for what Qatar has done to celebrate the 20th anniversary, we have ratified the convention in 2008 ever since it has been a reference point in developing national services and legislation and to move from a care towards a right based approach based on empowerment and full participation of persons with disabilities.
This has been reflected in development of integrated programs that include empowerment and accessibility and the enhancement of their participation in the issues that affect them.
One of the main development is law number 22 of 2025, which is an important step to enhance the rights of persons with disabilities as well as a unified national database.
With the 20th anniversary approaching, we are positively viewing this occasion, not only to celebrate what has been achieved, but more importantly, a milestone to assess impact and to set priorities and plans for the future and to benefit from the outcome observations and recommendations of the esteemed committee to do better in the future.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you very much to the member of the committee for your insight questions and to the distinguished delegation for your comprehensive responses and the information provided.
May I kindly again request that any remaining response to be submitted in writing within the 24 hours.
Now we are learning to the c in this semester.
I would like to give floor to the representative of National Human Rights Institution of the Qatar for closing remark.
I would like to remind the representatives, the state must not execute this 3 minutes.
You have the floor.
Thank you so much.
Madam Chair and members, Madam Chair, members of the esteemed committee, I would like, in conclusion of this constructive dialogue to extend my deep thanks to your esteemed committee for the valuable questions and remarks that will contribute inevitably in the promotion of the implementation of the CRPD.
The National Human Rights Committee affirms that the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities is measured by the extent to which it is reflected in the daily lives of persons with disabilities and their ability to live independently and to have access to services and to participate fully in the society on an equal footing with others.
The National Committee for Human Rights, being a national human rights institution will continue following up the implementation of the new law and monitoring the practical aspects of the implementation of the law through the unity on the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities affiliated to our committee, as well as cooperation with the national organizations and those concerned with persons with disabilities which would contribute in addressing existing challenges and to enhance compliance with the convention.
We hope that the closing remarks of your esteemed committee would support national efforts and to entrench a human rights approach that safeguards equality, dignity, and non discrimination for the benefit of all persons with disabilities.
Thank you to all of you.
Thank you so much.
I now give the floor to Her Excellency, doctor Maria Bin Ali Ali Mindi, Minister of the State for International Cooperation, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and head of the Distinguished Delegation of Qatar for your closing lima.
You have the floor.
Sad.
Your Excellency head and members of the CRPD Committee, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished participants in conclusion of this dialogue.
On behalf of my delegation, I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation for the constructive and objective dialogue that has taken place In the discussion of the combined second to fourth periodic reports before your esteemed committee, and we would like to express our appreciation to all parties that have contributed in making this dialogue a success, being the national authorities representatives of those of NGOs or technical bodies of the UN in Geneva, as well as interpreters and all who have played a role in enriching this dialogue.
The exchange of opinions and knowledge are a vital component to achieve progress in the field of human rights and the enjoyment of persons with disabilities with their rights and freedoms on an equal footing with others.
This dialogue is a valuable opportunity to build bridges of understanding international cooperation and to exchange the best interests and practices in order to contribute in the promotion of human rights, the preservation of human dignity, and the achievement of justice and sustainable development.
We will benefit from the outcomes of this report and the concluding remarks and recommendations that your esteemed committee will issue in order to pursue our efforts to improve our legislation, and our national programs and policies related to the rights of persons with disabilities following a participatory human rights approach that is based on the respect of human dignity, equality, and non discrimination, and the full and active participation, accessibility, transparency and accountability.
I seize this opportunity to reaffirm that the state of Qatar places the enhancement and the promotion and protection of human rights on top of its priorities.
And it views the cooperation with the UN human rights bodies, including your esteemed council and the Esteem Committee and Human Rights Council as a valuable complement to our national and international efforts in order to promote and protect human rights.
I urge the members of the committee in this respect to benefit from all the knowledge it acquires from dialogues that shed light on the experiences of countries, their different systems, the legal systems policies, and national specificities and for this to be reflected in your efforts in order to draft national comments and remarks that guide state parties and help them understand and interpret the articles of the convention.
We believe that cooperation with the UN in the field of human rights, especially in our region is important in order to enhance awareness of the importance of the CRPD.
And support capacity building for their implementation and to enhance disability approach in all services and programs.
We also believe that international cooperation is the main means to achieve sustainable development in the field of human rights, and we aspire to pursue effort and cooperation with your esteemed committee, the international Community, the non governmental organizations and all stakeholders in order to achieve the aspired goals and to forge ahead in a spirit of international cooperation and solidarity to face together the challenges and dangers that threat the human rights everywhere so that no one is left behind.
Thank you.
On behalf of the committee, I thank you, Your Excellency for your closing remark.
I now give the floor to Mr.
Abdelmadjid Makhi, member of the Taskapoce pro Qatar for the takace the closing remark.
Mr.
Makhi, you have the floor.
Sure.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
My thanks are due to all members of the Qatary delegation, especially her Excellency, the head of delegation, for her positive contribution in enriching our experience regarding what is going on in Qatar.
However, we have three remarks.
First, The normal proceedings of what you have accomplished in the previous years.
For example, in 2015, you were lucky to have stipulated a new law, but it has not been finalized.
All the points that are still pending affect the rights of persons with disabilities.
Hence, I ask you to go back to that law and to make it compatible with the provisions and articles of the CRPD and automatically and effectively meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
Second, this may be natural in our part of the world.
But we still urge that persons with disabilities take part in all your policies and efforts.
Hence, I ask you to establish a mechanism to follow up and provide for the participation of persons with disabilities in the drafting of the public policies in accordance with Article 33 of the International Convention.
My third and last point, which is equally important, is the role of women with disabilities.
I, in addition to all members of the UN committee, we call upon increasing the role of women with disabilities.
Hence, we ask you to give them the status they deserve in order to achieve all what you aspire as an Arab and Gulf country that aims to improve the issues of the disability, especially as next year you are embarking on something extremely important Namely, the World Summit on Disability.
Hence, we aspire that your role would be a pioneering, leading role in this respect and to give women with disabilities the position and status they deserve.
Once again, thank you very much.
I don't want to dwell further, but I thank you very much for your valuable contributions, and we thank all members of the delegation for enlightening us the way you did.
Thank you very much.
Thank you so much, Mr.
Makhi for your closing remark.
On behalf of the committee, I thank Her Excellency, doctor Maryam Bin Ali Al Misiny, your great leadership and the distinguished delegation of Qatar for the dialogue with the committee, which has provided further insight into the situation of persons with disabilities in the state party.
I also thank the National Human Rights Institution of Qatar Member of task groups and all committee expert, the secretaria, interpreters, captioners, and all those who have supported this dialogue.
The committee will carefully consider the information provided during the dialogue and in any written responses submitted thereafter.
Its concluding observation will be formally communicated to the state party through its permanent mission.
The committee encourage the state party to consider the recommendations that will be adopted and to continue its effort toward the full and effective implementation of the convention for all persons with disabilities.
That the constellation of the periodic report of the Qatar.
The meeting is adjourned.
Thank you so much.