Ankara: HE Chairperson of National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) and Chairperson of Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah, met Sunday with HE Speaker of Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, Numan Kurtulmus.
According to Qatar News Agency, during the meeting, Her Excellency highlighted the crucial roles played by both Qatar and Turkiye in mediating peaceful conflict resolutions. She also praised the efforts of the two countries in fostering inter-civilizational dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence among peoples.
Al Attiyah emphasized Qatar’s ongoing support for the Palestinian cause, particularly in providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people amidst Israeli aggression. She acknowledged Qatar’s pivotal role in securing the recent ceasefire agreement and its commitment to reconstruction efforts following Israel’s repeated attacks on Gaza.
She commended Turkiye’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, which remains central to both Arab and Islamic worlds. Al Attiyah stressed the need to end the double standards in international institutions and to prevent impunity, as a key safeguard against future violations.
The meeting also underscored the strong ties between Qatar and Turkiye, with both countries determined to strengthen cooperation in various fields, particularly in human rights. Al Attiyah provided an overview of the National Human Rights Committee in Qatar, its roles, and the latest developments in human rights in the country. She presented the NHRC strategic plan for 2024-2030, expressing eagerness to enhance collaboration with Turkiye, particularly in areas like women’s rights and social justice.
In a separate meeting, Al Attiyah met with HE Chairman of Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkiye, Muharrem Kilic, to discuss activating the cooperation agreement between NHRC and the Turkish institution signed in February 2023. The meeting explored opportunities for institutional collaboration, including exchanging expertise, sharing experiences, and preparing studies in the human rights field.
Al Attiyah proposed organizing joint training programs and initiatives to raise awareness of human rights, such as creating human rights curricula for schools and hosting a conference in 2025 on combating extremism, hate speech, and Islamophobia. These initiatives aim to strengthen the capacity of targeted groups to protect and promote human rights, while fostering cooperation between public institutions and NGOs.
Separately, Al Attiyah met with Chairperson of the Petitions Committee in the Turkish Parliament, Sunay Karamik. They discussed potential collaboration in addressing human rights issues and sharing best practices in managing petitions raised in the Turkish Parliament. Al Attiyah emphasized the importance of petitions as a tool for expressing human rights concerns and called for greater awareness through public campaigns.
The meetings also covered discussions on labor rights, women’s rights, freedom of expression, and how the two countries can enhance cooperation in these areas to raise their global profile.
