The State of Qatar participated in a panel discussion held by the Human Rights Council in Geneva today via video conference technology, on the occasion of the fifteenth anniversary of the responsibility to protect civilian populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, which was adopted by the General Assembly within the framework of the outcomes of the International Summit 2005.

The State of Qatar was represented in the panel discussion as a keynote speaker by HE Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Counterterrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution Dr. Mutlaq bin Majed Al Qahtani.

In his speech, HE Al Qahtani addressed the experience of the State of Qatar and its efforts to protect civilians, stressing that the State of Qatar has integrated the responsibility to protect civilians from atrocities, in particular war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and ethnic cleansing, in its domestic and foreign policy.

This integration was done by addressing the root causes of acts of violence and extremism and preventing conflicts, and through development and education programs, creating economic opportunities, good offices, mediation and preventive diplomacy to prevent and settle conflicts, His Excellency said, stressing that the responsibility to protect is a legal obligation for all countries.

HE the Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Counterterrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution also pointed out that all member states of the United Nations have an explicit obligation to protect their people from heinous crimes or mass brutalities, expressing his belief that more work needs to be done in the field of preventing mass atrocities. He added that Member States should continue to increase their participation in strengthening the commitment to the responsibility to protect civilians from atrocities, in particular war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and ethnic cleansing, thus improving the efforts made by international community to prevent and stop these atrocities.

(QNA)