Qatar, FIFA publish World Cup rights pledges

Qatar and FIFA published Tuesday first jointly issued legacy planning strategy ahe of a football World Cup, with pledges on labour and LGBT rights alongside protections for activists and journalists. Qatar has faced intense scrutiny from rights groups over its treatment of migrant labourers working on construction projects ahe of 2022 tournament as well as its laws criminalising homosexual acts. 112-page "Sustainability Strategy" also sets out commitments on making tournament inclusive for groups including disabled, boosting economic development, protecting environment and promoting ethical business practices.

"A total of 22 objectives have been described in detail, toger with more than 70 concrete initiatives and programmes to deliver strategy," FIFA and Qatari Supreme Committee organisers said in a statement.

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On workers' rights, document said Qatar would promote "decent working and living conditions and fair recruitment, including effective access" to remedial measures. "Efforts include measures to protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all associated workers, especially migrant workers in Qatar, and to avoid any forced and child labour."  Gulf analyst James Dorsey said strategy "puts pressure on Qatar by definition".

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"Qatar may very well welcome this and y have been involved in drafting this document," he said. 

"It helps m project mselves as standing up for human rights and values." But Dorsey warned that while "FIFA has se lofty principles" it was unclear how ir implementation would be monitored.

strategy also contains a pledge to certify all stiums and permanent offices under rigorous Global Sustainability Assessment System criteria to minimise environmental impacts. Organisers will also improve "sustainable building standards and tools in Qatar" while seeking to use green building materials where possible, document said. Qatar's ruler, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Ham Al-Thani, vowed at United Nations last year that tournament would be carbon neutral, but gave little detail on how this would be achieved.

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document stresses that FIFA events prohibit "discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group of people on account of race, skin colour, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, language, religion, opinion, wealth, birth or any or status". "As a host country for FIFA World Cup 2022, Qatar is fully aware of its responsibility to here to FIFA's human rights and non-discrimination" policies, document ded. Security officers involved in tournament would receive specialised human rights training and guidance on how to deal with media and rights activists, it said. FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura said tournament "offers us a unique opportunity to bring about positive change -- one that FIFA and Qatar cannot, and will not, let slip away". 

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