UN Human Rights Council recognises Qatar’s progress but asks for more
November 15 – Hardly a week went by in the build-up to the 2022 World Cup when Qatar wasn’t under examination for its policy on human rights.
Qatar
Kaili says she feels betrayed by EU over Qatar bribery allegations
December 14 – Eva Kaili, one of the key figures caught up in the latest burgeoning scandal involving World Cup hosts Qatar, says she feels betrayed by European Parliament colleagues who stripped the Greek MEP of her role as vice president of the assembly.
Augsburg pull out of Al-Duhail friendly after fans protest Qatar human rights record
July 18 – German Bundesliga club Augsburg called off a friendly match with Qatari club Al-Duhail on Sunday after criticism from fans.
Qatar league signs FIFA MoU to support ‘transformation plan’
June 13 – Looking beyond the Qatar 2022 World Cup, FIFA and the Qatar Stars League (QSL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see the world governing body provide on how to raise club management and administration standards across all QSL first and second division clubs.
Third Norwegian journalist detained in Qatar
November 30 – In the build-up to the 2022 World Cup and with press coverage intensifying on the hosts Qatar, a third Norwegian journalist has been arrested in the country but later released without charge.
Dutch FA keep Qatar human rights issues on the ‘change’ agenda
October 8 – Ahead of the Netherlands’ World Cup qualifiers against both Latvia and Gibraltar, the Dutch FA (KNVB) is accelerating its ‘Football supports change’ campaign, which seeks to achieve sustainable change for labour migrants in Qatar.
Norwegian FA adds to pressure on FIFA to review Qatar human rights complaints
April 28 – Following in the footsteps of the Danish and Swedish football federations, the Norwegian FA (NFF) has become the third national football governing body to demand answers from FIFA over working conditions of migrant workers in Qatar, the host for the 2022 World Cup.
Qatar unveils 2021 ‘Arab Mundial’ as warm-up for 2022 World Cup
June 26 – FIFA may have canned the its quadrennial Confederations Cup, the curtain-raiser and test bed held the year before in the World Cup by the host nation, but Qatar will still have the opportunity to give its new facilities a rigorous workout in 2021 with the announcement of a new pan-Arab tournament.
ILO backs ‘positive change’ of Qatari reforms and closes complaint procedure
November 8 – The International Labour Organization has halted a potential investigation into Qatar’s employment practises after the government in Doha introduced legislation to protect foreign workers and pledged further reforms.
Qatari labour reforms of wages and ‘kafala’ win support of hard-hitting ITUC
October 26 – Under the global spotlight over its treatment of foreign workers, Qatari authorities have agreed a range of labour reforms including the introduction of a minimum wage and the abolition of the controversial kafala system under which foreign workers must get their employer’s consent to change jobs or leave the country.
Feeling their way. Qatar breaks ground with ‘sensory room’ stadium project
May 30 – As the first 2022 World Cup stadium opened its gates for Qatar’s Emir Cup final last week, a pilot sensory room project also kicked off, designed to improve the match-day experience for supporters with cognitive disabilities.
ILO keeps up pressure on Qatar on migrant workers’ travel rights
March 23 – The International Labour Organisation, one of the United Nations’ most highly regarded agencies, has decided to continue monitoring Qatar for human rights violations until November despite the Gulf state, organisers of the 2022 World Cup, insisting progress is being made.
Qatar stumbles on labour reform as draft law fails to win support
By Mark Baber
June 24 – Long awaited reform of Qatar’s ‘kafala’ sponsorship system, promised by the Qatari government, have hit a significant obstacle as the country’s Advisory Council reportedly voted against adopting the draft law and agreed to send amendments, which would strengthen the rights of employers, back to committee for further study.
Qatar says TV crew was arrested for trespass, BBC rejects claims
By Andrew Warshaw
May 19 – Qatari authorities, under fresh pressure to improve their human rights record ahead of the 2022 World Cup, have hit back at BBC claims that a reporting team was arrested and detained for trying to film conditions at migrant workers’ housing despite being on an officially sanctioned visit to the country.
Qatar labour camps back in spotlight as calls for reform mount
By Andrew Warshaw
May 18 – Amid reports that a BBC correspondent has become the latest western journalist to be detained in Qatar despite being invited as part of an official tour, fresh calls were made in London today for FIFA’s World Cup sponsors to use their commercial clout to radically improve conditions for thousands of migrant workers employed on construction sites.