Women and Girls in Qatar
At QCPD, we recognise women and girls as a key focus area within our broader mission to advance human rights, social justice, and democratic reforms. In line with United Nations frameworks, this means paying particular attention to their distinct experiences, vulnerabilities, and rights.
Our work seeks to highlight:
- The enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by women and girls in Qatar, both nationals and non-nationals.
- The specific challenges faced by female migrant workers, including gaps in protection and access to remedies.
- How adopting a gender lens in documentation and analysis ensures women and girls are visible in policy debates and advocacy.
This focus reflects our survivor-centred approach: putting the voices and lived realities of women and girls at the heart of our work, while promoting inclusive reforms that benefit society as a whole. It is also directly linked to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), which guide our pursuit of equality and inclusivity across all aspects of society.
In one of key publications on the Copenhagen Commitments (1995 World Summit for Social Development), we noted how progress in Qatar must also be measured by advances in the rights and participation of women and girls. This analysis informs our ongoing advocacy and ensures that gender perspectives remain central to our engagement at national and international levels.
The latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Qatar, also discussed in one of our latest publications, further highlighted persisting gaps in safeguards for women and girls — whether in the form of restrictions on the autonomy of Qatari women and the enduring impact of the kafala system, or the fact that domestic workers often fall through the cracks of legislative and labour reforms. Addressing these gaps remains central to our mission and advocacy.
“From Qatari nationals to migrant domestic workers, every woman and girl deserves equal protection and dignity.”