GCC Underlines Importance of Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building in Human Rights Field

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States have underlined the critical importance of technical cooperation and capacity-building in the field of human rights, including the implementation of the recommendations of the universal periodic review. This came in a statement delivered by HE the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva Dr. Hind bint Abdulrahman Al Muftah, on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States, in her capacity as Chair of the Gulf Group, during the annual thematic panel discussion on technical cooperation and capacity building, within the framework of the 56th Session of the Human Rights Council. The GCC States expressed their belief that exchanging best practices and experiences - along with technical assistance designed to meet countries' special needs, taking into account their national and regional specificities and diverse historical, cultural and religious backgrounds, will greatly help countries achieve tangible progress in the fi eld of promoting and protecting human rights. The GCC States stressed that the universal periodic review mechanism has been established as a basic foundation for evaluating and enhancing human rights practices at the global level and providing a fair platform for countries to exchange experiences and progress in the field of promoting and protecting human rights. They affirmed their commitment to the universal periodic review process and their constructive engagement within its framework. In the statement, the GCC States encouraged the exchange of best practices between countries to inspire and guide effective implementation strategies, and urged the allocation of more resources to technical cooperation and capacity-building initiatives within approved and existing mechanisms to meet needs. Source: Qatar News Agency