Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee (NHRC), in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations in Geneva, inaugurated a painting exhibition titled ‘Human Rights and Football’ on the sidelines of 49th Session of Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Those present on the occasion included Sultan bin Hassan Al Jamali, NHRC secretary-general; Jawhara bint Abdulaziz Al Suwaidi, acting charge d’ Affaires of Qatar at the United Nations Office in Geneva; Francesco Motta, UN Human Rights Chief of OHCHR Asia, Pacific, Middle East and North Africa; Giovanni Di Cola, special advisor to the Office of Deputy Director-General of International Labor Organization; representatives of diplomatic missions, international organisations and members of participating countries in the 49th Human Rights Council Session in Geneva.

Paintings expressing concepts of human rights in football in various languages and the models of 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums were on display at the exhibition.

In his welcome address, Jamali said that Qatar’s NHRC organised the exhibition considering the process of integrating the concepts of human rights into major sports events.

He said the paintings on display are from the works of Qatari artist Ahmed Al Maddad.
Jamali said the exhibition is not only about paintings and its aesthetic dimensions, but these paintings reflect the meanings of human rights in football, and preservation and protection of human rights in sports sector as presented in panel discussions on the occasion.
“Through this exhibition, we have conveyed the goal of NHRC in Qatar in spreading and establishing human rights through art, the fastest means of conveying and communicating messages,” he said.

He added that NHRC considers sports as comprehensive goals regardless of winning or losing to promote human development and safety in line with Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals which is to ensure the enjoyment of healthy lifestyle and safety at all ages.

He pointed out that sport shares many basic goals and values with human rights principles, and these paintings embody many of the basic principles contained in international human rights conventions and covenants. The sport of football aims to make sport means for harmonious development of man in order to create a peaceful society by preserving human dignity. Discipline, mutual respect, sportsmanship and teamwork help in educating individuals about the necessary values of social peace, he said.

Jamali emphasised the ability of sport to promote social development by changing perceptions of people with disabilities and providing the opportunity for those people to participate in sports and integrate them into their societies.

He said the paintings on display express anti-violence in stadiums, anti-racist discrimination that may be issued by some fans against players. He said this phenomenon has emerged in recent years on a large scale in many stadiums.

He added that the ‘Human Rights Football’ exhibition reflects the role of security in stadiums, as well as showing the rights of people with special needs in stadiums, allocating places for them between the stands for fans in various sporting events.

On her part, Suwaidi pointed to the existence of a strong relationship between football and human rights. She hoped that these messages regarding the inter-relationship between football and human rights will spread as widely as possible.

Motta said on the occasion that major tournaments like FIFA World Cup are not just celebrations rather such events bring prestige to the host country with a kind of scrutiny, especially in areas of human rights.
Government of Qatar has improved workers’ rights through stronger legislation and strengthening cooperation with ILO, he added.

Giovanni Di Cola lauded the labour reforms introduced by Qatar and its efforts to ensure the legislation.