The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR), Access Now, CIVICUS and ARTICLE 19 have made a joint submission to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Qatar, for the 47th Session of the UPR Working Group being held in November 2024.

In this submission, the organisations examine the Government of Qatar’s compliance with its international human rights obligations to create and maintain a safe and enabling environment for civil society. We analyse Qatar’s fulfilment of the rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association, peaceful assembly as well as the authorities’ unwarranted restrictions on human rights defenders since its previous UPR examination in 2019. In addition, we highlight ongoing issues related to gender equality, migrants’ rights, women’s rights, and corruption. To this end, we assess Qatar’s implementation of recommendations received during the last UPR cycle relating to these issues and provide a number of follow-up recommendations.

During the 3^rd UPR cycle, the Government of Qatar received 19 recommendations relating to civic space. Of these recommendations, 9 were supported and 10 were noted. An evaluation of a range of sources and human rights documentation addressed in subsequent sections of this submission demonstrates that the Government of Qatar has not fully implemented these recommendations. Acute implementation gaps were found with regard to the right to freedom of association, freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and issues relating to the right to a fair trial and due legal procedures. As a result of these gaps, civic space in Qatar is rated as repressed by the CIVICUS Monitor, indicating particularly severe restrictions of the fundamental rights of civil society and high levels of risks for activists, at home and abroad. Onerous conditions and repressive measures, in addition to grave human rights violations and abuses against citizens, limit the space for human rights advocacy by civil society.

We are deeply concerned by the ongoing travel bans imposed on numerous HRDs. We are further alarmed by convictions and sentencing of HRDs in absentia and in trials that do not meet minimum international standards.

Section 2 concerns freedom of association.

Section 3 concerns the protection of HRDs, civil society activists and journalists.

Section 4 concerns the right to freedom of expression and media freedom, including on the internet.

Section 5 concerns freedom of peaceful assembly.

Section 6 addresses gender equality

Section 7 addresses migrants rights.

Section 8 contains recommendations to address the concerns raised.

Section 9 is an annex on the implementation of 3^rd cycle UPR recommendations related to civic space.

Download the full report in English here.