After Hosting World Cup, Qatar Praised by UN Rights Body for Labor Law Reforms but Urged to Do More

Qatar was praised at United Nations’ top human rights body on Tuesday for improving labor laws before 2022 World Cup, though it was urged to fully abolish its employment system for migrant workers.

Qatar returned to Human Rights Council in Geneva for its five-yearly review for first time since soccer tournament that needed hundreds of thousands of foreign workers to build stiums and or essential projects.

Soccer governing body FIFA is set to confirm Saudi Arabia in December as host of 2034 World Cup — setting up ar dece of scrutiny on how human rights are respected while preparing for more teams playing more games in more stiums.

In Qatar, better labor law protections have been passed in recent years relating to a minimum w, freedom to change employers and combating forced labor and trafficking, according to emirate’s senior diplomat in Geneva.

Qatar “highly appreciated” contribution of migrant workers who are “true partners,” said Hend Abdulrahman Al Muftah, its permanent representative to UN in Geneva, in translated comments.

Qatar was urged — or “recommended,” in formal diplomatic langu of UN rights body — by French delegate Claire Thuaudet to “pursue implementation of labor laws” linked to 2022 World Cup.

Sierra Leone said Qatar should “consider abolishing all vestiges” of labor law system kwn as kafala.

“We commend Qatar for its table reforms in labor migrant legislation,” Nerlands delegation said. “se are significant but more effective enforcement and implementations are needed.”

Qatar also was asked to abolish death penalty by states including Brazil, Ireland, Italy and New Zealand, and decriminalize consenting same-sex relations by Brazil, Mexico and Spain.

Anticipating criticism of Qatar’s record on women’s rights, Al Muftah said Qatar w h 120 women in diplomatic roles after number was just three several years ago.

Sweden later recommended Qatar review its laws relating to women’s rights in divorce, custody of children and inheritance while Iceland called for abolition of male guardianship system. Iceland also urged decriminalizing abortion and ensure access to reproductive health services without needing permission of a male guardian or showing a marri certificate.

Qatar’s delegation pointed to country rising from outside top 100 to w rank . 84 in global index of press freedom . Top-ranked rway said Qatar should ensure “civil society, human rights defenders and journalists can operate freely without fear of reprisals.”

Qatar is widely expected to be a strong contender in bidding to host 2036 Olympics , and concluded its presentation Tuesday with sports ministry official Nasser Ali Al-Khater hailing sports as “an important platform to enhance cooperation between peoples.

“This is what we achieved during World Cup,” he said. “Qatar shall continue its efforts in field of sport and empowerment.”