Human rights in Qatar

Qatar, host nation of the 2022 Men’s World Cup, face a number of serious human rights issues. There has been progress on some of these since 2010, when Qatar were awarded the rights to host the event. However, the behaviour of the Qatari government and FIFA before, during, and after the tournament have illustrated that essential human rights in Qatar are lacking in several areas.

Although FIFA established a legacy fund for Qatar after the completion of the tournament, it failed to provide compensation for workers who died, were injured, or had wages withheld or underpaid during construction prior to the Men’s World Cup, despite the recommendations of a report from FIFA’s subcommittee on human rights and social responsibility.

LABOUR

• Qatar risks backsliding on critical labour reforms [Human Rights Watch]
• FIFA: Approve ‘Legacy Fund’ for 2022 World Cup abuses [Human Rights Watch]
• FIFA: Time to compensate migrant workers in Qatar [Amnesty International]
• Revealed: 6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since World Cup awarded [The Guardian]
• Qatar: Domestic workers share harrowing accounts of abuse and exploitation [Amnesty International]
• FIFA/Qatar: Migrant workers call for compensation for abuses [Human Rights Watch]
• Qatar: Labour reform unfinished and compensation still owed as World Cup looms [Amnesty International]

WOMEN’S RIGHTS

• Qatar: Male guardianship severely curtails women’s rights [Human Rights Watch]
• Qatar joins core human rights treaties but rejects major protections for women, migrant workers [Human Rights Watch]
• Angry diplomatic response after Qatar ‘forcibly examined’ women at airport [France 24]

LGBTQ RIGHTS

• Qatar and LGBTQ human rights: An overview ahead of the World Cup [International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association]
• A World Cup of shame: FIFA fails LGBT rights test in Qatar [Human Rights Watch]
• How LGBTIQ+ people are treated in Qatar [LGBTIQ+ Human Rights Sports Coalition]
• Athlete Ally and 15 LGBTQ+ organizations raise concerns for LGBTQI+ people at Qatar World Cup [Athlete Ally]
• LGBTQ+ groups condemn FIFA over OneLove armband sanctions threat [The Guardian]

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

• Qatar: Repressive new law further curbs freedom of expression [Amnesty International]
• Qatar: Quash life sentences for activists who protested discriminatory election law [Amnesty International]
• Norwegian journalists reporting on World Cup workers arrested in Qatar [The Guardian]