Ali bin Samikh Al Marri

Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh Al-Marri (Arabic: علي بن سعيد بن صميخ المري)[1] is a Qatari human rights figure[2] and politician[3] born on November 30, 1972.[4] He was appointed Minister of Labour of the State of Qatar on October 19, 2021,[5] and was re-appointed Minister of Labor by an Amiri order in March 2023.[6] Before taking up the ministerial portfolio, he had chaired the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) for State of Qatar since 2009.[7] He also served as acting president and secretary-general of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions[8] and as president of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions. In 2012 he was elected chairman of the Permanent Arab Committee on Human Rights of the Arab League[9] and chairman of the Asia Pacific Forum[10] for the session 2013 to 2015. He was re-elected as chairman of the NHRC of the State of Qatar in 2019.[11][12] In June 2023, Al-Marri was elected as president of the United Nation's annual International Labour Conference.[13][14][15]

Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh Al-Marri
Minister of Labour
Assumed office
October 19, 2021
Appointed byTamim bin Hamad Al Thani
Prime MinisterKhalid bin Khalifa bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani
Preceded byYousuf Mohamed Al Othman Fakhroo
Personal details
Born (1972-11-30) November 30, 1972 (age 51)
EducationPhD in Political Science (2006)
MA of Political Science (2002)
BA of Political Science (1997)



Education & Career

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Dr. Ali Bin Samikh Al-Marri holds a Ph.D. in political science in 2006, a MA of Political Science in 2002 and a Bachelor of Political Science in 1997.[4]

After gaining a Ph.D, Al-Marri has been engaged with human rights and humanitarian work through field and functional work, as he has a long expertise in international circles regarding protection and promotion of human rights at both local and international levels, which has contributed to Qatar's accession to a number of conventions, protocols and charters related to human rights during his tenure as the chairman of The National Human Rights Commission.[16]

On the other hand, he was concerned with institutional work of Human Rights field, especially with regard to the importance of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) and enhancing its role.[8] During his tenure, he also used to accredit national human rights institutions to the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the GANRHI in accordance with its commitment to the Paris Principles of human rights standards.[17]

Positions

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  • Dr. Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh Al Marri is the current Minister of Labour in Qatar.[18][12]
  • President of the International Labour Conference, 111th session of 2023.[19]
  • Vice-President of the International Labour Conference, 110th session of 2022.[19][20]
  • President of the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions: June 2021 - October 2021 session.[21] He was elected during the 17th General Assembly of Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions.
  • Secretary-General of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions: 2018 - 2021.[8]
  • Vice President of the GANRHI: 2018 - 2021.[8]
  • This happened during the General Assembly Meeting of the GANRHI on Tuesday, 5 February 2019 at the Palace of Nations in Geneva, following electing Dr. Al Marri as the vice-president, secretary-general and member of the Executive Bureau of the GANRHI.[22]
  • Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC): 2009 - 2021.[7] Dr. Al Marri has been the chairman of the NHRC for the past 12 years.[23]
  • President of the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions from 2012 to 2021.[24]
  • Vice President of the Asia Pacific Forum (APF) of National Human Rights Institutions: 2015–2017.[25]
  • Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the GANHRI: 2012–2015. According to the recent statement of the NHRC, The Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions has decided to re-elect Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri, Chairman of Qatar NHRC as president of the committee for the third time.[26]
  • President of the APF of National Human Rights Institutions: 2013–2015. This is backed up by the APF happened in Morocco of the year 2014. During his time which he mainly addressed the initiatives for protecting and promoting the rights of women.[27]
  • Chairman of the Permanent Arab Human Rights Committee of the League of Arab States: 2012-2014[4] During his term, Dr. Ali have made major efforts to ensure that the Arab League has an organized and achieved its objectives clearly.
  • Vice-chairman of the Committee of Arab Human Rights Panel of Experts in the Arab League: 2008–2009.[28]
  • Vice Chairman of the NHRC in the State of Qatar: 2007–2009. One of the book being published under the regulation of Dr. Al Marri discussing the labor law in Qatar.[29]

Chairman of the Board of Directors

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  • Workers' Support and Insurance Fund in November 2021.[30]
  • National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking in January 2022.[31]
  • Qatar Manpower Solutions Company "Jusour" in January 2023.

Memberships

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  • Member of the National Planning Council - May 2024.[32]
  • Chairman of the board of directors of the Arab Labor Organization 2024.[33]
  • Chairman of the National Manpower Planning Committee at the Ministry of Labor - March 2024.[34]

Al-Marri's books

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  • "Majlis Al Tawoon Al Khaliji: Azmat Al Hader Wa Tahadiyyat Al Mustaqbal" - The Gulf Cooperation Council:[35] present crises and future challenges.
  • "At-Tahawul Al Demoktari fi Dawlat Qatar" - Democratic Transition in the State of Qatar.[4]

Research

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Dr. Ali Bin Samikh Al-Marri has written a number of research papers on human rights, including "Philosophical Thought and the Values of the Major Revolutions as a Source of Human Rights", "Eliminating Child Labour by Applying it to Some Arab States", "The Principle of The Prohibition of Forced Labour", "International Protection of Human Rights During Armed Conflicts and Under Occupation", "The Impact of International and Regional Transformations on The Gulf Cooperation Council", "The Legal Status of Jerusalem", "Sierra Leone From Slavery to The Civil War", "Egyptian-Sudanese Water Relations", "State Functions Under Individualist Direction", "The Determinants of Qatar's Foreign Policy[36]" and "The Political and Constitutional Development of The State of Qatar Under The Permanent Constitution".[4]

Al-Marri's role as Qatar's Labour Minister

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Ali bin Samikh Al Marri is the Qatari Minister of Labour and former chairman of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) in. He has been involved in leading efforts to reform the treatment of migrant workers in the country, particularly in the construction industry. These efforts have focused on improving working and living conditions of migrant workers in Qatar and, increasing transparency and accountability, and addressing issues of labor exploitation. Since he assumed his position as the labour minister, Al Marri has intensified efforts in ensuring the protection of workers.

His Excellency the Minister of Labour has overall responsibility for all Ministry of Labour issues, including:

  • Proposing and executing public policies, regulations and systems concerning the workforce
  • Overseeing recruitment policies and Qatarisation (nationalisation) of jobs
  • Implementing the labour law
  • Protecting migrant workers socially and legally

Al Marri and ILO are continuously working together on areas of labour reforms including occupational safety and health, intensifying efforts to combat forced labour and human trafficking, and supporting companies to revise their policies and procedures in line with the new legislation.[37]

In May 2021, a new Ministerial Decision was introduced to protect workers during the hottest months of the year (From 1 June to 15 September) particularly outdoor workers who are exposed to the heat, humidity and the sun, must work between 10 am and 3:30 pm.[38]

On 3 November 2022, Ali bin Samikh Al Marri he had a meeting with the director-general of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Gilbert F. Houngbo, in Geneva, and during the meeting, the progress was noticed in the continuous technical cooperation program between the ILO and Qatar.“Recent labour reforms by the State of Qatar have brought positive results. I thank Minister Al Marri for their commitment to pursue these reforms and their implementation, in line with Qatar's vision 2030. The ILO is ready to continue supporting the State of Qatar, to bring further improvements that benefit all workers,” said Director-General Houngbo in the meeting.[39]

Al-Marri's role in the Qatar blockade

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Al-Marri's role emerged in light of the blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt on Qatar on June 5, 2017, through his great efforts on the human rights level. Acting as the chairman of the National Human Rights Committee, he adopted regional and international moves to explain the catastrophic effects of the blockade, through communication with international governmental and non-governmental organizations and delivering press statements about the blockading states, in addition to participating and holding many international conferences that would document the repercussions of the blockade.[40]

During blockade he led various communications, through an array of international forums, calling for the necessity of immediate action to end the suffering of those affected by the blockade imposed on Qatar, and urging human rights organizations, regional and international organizations and other parties to assume their responsibilities to stop the blockade against Qatar.[41]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Minister's Message".
  2. ^ "NHRC – National Human Rights Committee". Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  3. ^ "Political System".
  4. ^ a b c d e "علي بن صميخ المري.. الوجه الحقوقي الأبرز بالأزمة الخليجية". www.aljazeera.net (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  5. ^ "HH the Amir Issues Amiri Order Reshuffling Qatar Cabinet".
  6. ^ QNA/Doha (2023-03-07). "Amir appoints Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani as PM in Cabinet reshuffle". Gulf Times. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  7. ^ a b "Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar". www.asianforum.uz. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
  8. ^ a b c d "The General Assembly of the Global Alliance of National Human rights Institutions selected Dr. Al Marri as the Vice President and Secretary General of the GANHRI The NHRC officially took up office in the GANHRI – NHRC".
  9. ^ "ACIHL - The League of Arab States and the Arab Charter on Human Rights". acihl.org. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  10. ^ "Towards a region where everyone enjoys human rights | Asia Pacific Forum". www.asiapacificforum.net. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  11. ^ "Al-Marri re-elected chairman of NHRC". Gulf-Times (in Arabic). 2019-05-13. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  12. ^ a b Government, Communications Office (June 21, 2022). "His Excellency Dr Ali bin Saeed bin Smaikh Al Marri". Government Communications Office. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  13. ^ "Qatar minister elected to head UN labor conference following World Cup scrutiny". AP News. 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  14. ^ "Qatar assumes presidency over International Labour Conference". Gulf Times. 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  15. ^ "Make social justice a priority issue on the global agenda, says ILO Director-General". www.ilo.org. 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  16. ^ "Official Statement by Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee on the occasion of the National Day of the State of Qatar – NHRC". Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  17. ^ "Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee: We have great international and regional partnerships that qualify us to play a pivotal role in achieving sustainable development goals – NHRC". Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  18. ^ "Qatar moving forward with labour reforms: minister". Gulf-Times (in Arabic). 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  19. ^ a b "First Time Since ILO's Inception, Qatar Elected as President of International Labour Conference". www.qna.org.qa. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  20. ^ "Qatars Minister of Labor Elected Vice-President of International Labor Conference". www.qna.org.qa. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  21. ^ "The National Human Rights Committee in the State of Qatar takes over the presidency of the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions Dr. Al-Marri, President of the Arab Network in its seventeenth session – الشبكة العربية للمؤسسات الوطنية لحقوق الإنسان". Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  22. ^ "The General Assembly of the Global Alliance of National Human rights Institutions selected Dr. Al Marri as the Vice President and Secretary General of the GANHRI The NHRC officially took up office in the GANHRI – NHRC". Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  23. ^ "Official Statement by Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee on the occasion of the National Day of the State of Qatar – NHRC". Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  24. ^ Qatar, Tribune (June 3, 2022). "Al Marri elected President of Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions". Qatar Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  25. ^ "APF expresses its support for Qatar's NHRI | Asia Pacific Forum". www.asiapacificforum.net. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  26. ^ "Reelecting Dr . Al Marri as President of the Sub-committee on accreditation for the third time – NHRC". Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  27. ^ "Dr. Al Marri, the president of the Asia Pacific Forum presented a working paper in the Global Forum on Human Rights in Morocco – NHRC". Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  28. ^ "Qatar won membership of the Arab Commission on Human Rights – NHRC". Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  29. ^ Al Ali, Hala (June 2009). "Workers Rights Book" (PDF). National Human Rights Committee - Workers Rights Book: 84.
  30. ^ "Board of Workers' Support and Insurance Fund holds meeting". thepeninsulaqatar.com. 2021-11-11. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  31. ^ "National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking Holds Third Meeting for 2022". www.qna.org.qa. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  32. ^ "سمو الأمير يصدر قرارا أميريا بتشكيل المجلس الوطني للتخطيط". www.diwan.gov.qa (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  33. ^ "انتخاب دولة قطر رئيساً لمجلس إدارة منظمة العمل العربية للدورة الـ 99". www.mol.gov.qa (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  34. ^ "إنشاء لجنة تخطيط القوى العاملة برئاسة وزير العمل". www.qna.org.qa (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  35. ^ "الأمانة العامة لمجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية". www.gcc-sg.org. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  36. ^ "Foreign Policy". Government Communications Office. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  37. ^ "ILO and Qatar agree to continue joint work on labour reform". www.ilo.org. 2022-11-03. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  38. ^ "Heat Stress is dangerous, but it can be managed!" (PDF). State of Qatar Ministry of Labor.
  39. ^ "ILO and Qatar agree to continue joint work on labour reform". www.ilo.org. 2022-11-03. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  40. ^ "Lecture by H.E. Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri hosted "Qatar blockade from human rights perspective"". www.qu.edu.qa. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  41. ^ Disk, Europe (2017-11-01). "Qatar's new Active Diplomacy of Human Rights". Madrid Journals. Retrieved 2022-06-19.