From February 25 to 29, the Ministry of Social Development and the Family, on behalf of the Department of Family Development, hosted a basic training programme titled "Getting acquainted with international human rights agreements and protection mechanisms, including how to prepare reports for international treaty bodies."

This training programme is a foundation for the staff of the Ministry and the Committee. Approximately 27 employees from the various departments involved in the preparation of reports and responses to international organizations. It is also an operation of the agreement concluded between the parties. It aims to familiarize them with the international conventions signed by the State, in addition to developing their skills in responding to international reports.

Through the participation of its staff in this programme, the Ministry seeks to benefit from the Committee's expertise in this area, thereby achieving one of its most prominent skills in human rights training and education, as well as the development of skills for writing reports for international organisations.

Professor Rania Fouad and Professor Hala Al-Ali, both legal specialists from the National Human Rights Commission, presented the programme. The curriculum covered a variety of topics, including national human rights institutions, identifying international methods for human rights protection, and analysing the State's conventions and their significance for society.

Participants will also be taught how to structure the reports they submit. During the training programme, the trainer relied on the interactive curriculum through a theoretical explanation of the axes in the method of analysis and rooting, and the application of the strategy for discussion and dialogue during the commentary, as well as participation in practical issues raised by trainees Working groups have also been created to discuss and collaboratively debate matters concerning the most essential rights linked to their employment. Trainees also gained practical experience by preparing reports for international organisations.

In connection with this cooperation, Mr. Nasser Marzouq Al-Marri, Director of the Legal Affairs Department of the National Human Rights Commission, confirmed that the training course on familiarisation with international human rights instruments and how to prepare reports for human rights bodies and agreements is part of the memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Social Development and the Family and the Commission for a number of the two organisations. In addition to promoting and expanding their functioning capacities on the human rights approach, he pointed out that human rights in Islamic law precede international law and institutions in terms of preserving and respecting human rights by fourteen centuries.

Ms. Dhabya al-Meqbali, Director of the Department of Family Development, emphasised the Ministry's desire to expand staff skills in the field of human rights, as well as the National Human Rights Commission's role in educating and disseminating human rights awareness and knowledge.

It should be noted that the Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Human Rights Commission in February of last year to expand and strengthen their mutual collaboration and capitalise on the organisations' shared opportunities.

The memorandum of understanding includes cooperation and the exchange of experiences in the area of lessons acquired, improving awareness-raising activities, addressing international and domestic viewpoints on social sector issues, and exchanges of views and consultations on the development of appropriate regulations and laws relating to the both sides' subjects.