February 3 – Qatar World Cup organisers have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the country’s National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) to enhance the human rights legacy of the 2022 global finals.
The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), alongside the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC signed the MoU to “ to collaborate in raising awareness of human rights issues, while continuing to ensure all aspects of human rights are considered in the delivery of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” the global governing body announced on Wednesday.
The NHRC is a government-appointed human rights commission that was established by Qatar in 2002. It is tasked with raising awareness around human rights abuses.
“The SC has worked tirelessly to protect the health, safety and welfare of all workers engaged on the Qatar 2022 project,” said secretary general of the SC Hassan Al Thawadi. “We are proud of our achievements over the past ten years and strongly believe that our actions have created a benchmark for excellence – not just in Qatar, but across the region and around the world.”
Ever since Qatar was awarded the hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup, organisers have come under fire over the country’s human rights record, with much of the scrutiny focused on the working conditions of immigrant workers building the World Cup stadiums and other related infrastructure.
Qatar partnered with the International Labour Organisation in 2017 to implement labour reform, but Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly sounded the alarm bell, emphasising that the handful of reforms that have been taken have not gone far enough.
“When we bid for 2022, we promised to use the tournament as a catalyst for positive social, human and environmental change in Qatar,” said CEO of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Nasser Al Khater.
“This MoU is another demonstration of that promise being delivered and we welcome it as a positive step to achieving one of our most important tournament objectives. Our collective expertise will help ensure that the rights of everyone involved in this ground-breaking World Cup – from workers and staff to players and fans – are upheld throughout, according to the highest international standards.”
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713519192labto1713519192ofdlr1713519192owedi1713519192sni@o1713519192fni1713519192