On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Qatar LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Qatar country of origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Qatar COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Qatar.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Qatar is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
The State of Qatar is not party to the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol. Qatar is also not party to the UN Conventions on Statelessness.
Qatar passed Law No. 11/2018 on Organizing Political Asylum on September 4, 2018, alongside two other laws regulating residency in the country. One abolished exit permits for most migrant workers, and the other allows people for the first time to apply for permanent residency. The law provides the legal basis for Qatar’s asylum system.
This legislation added to the 2009 law regulating the entry, exit, residence, and sponsorship of expatriates.
Legal aid organisations
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Address: Fereej Abdulaziz Area, Opposite Petrol Station, Nasser Bin Khalid Intercession Direction, Otabi Tower
Tel: +974 4404 8844
Email: pr@nhrc.org.qa
The NHRC was established in 2002, on the basis of Emiri Decree No. 38 of that year in order to uphold and promote the human rights in the International Treaties to which the State of Qatar has acceded. NHRC states that it is independent. While it does not mention refugees in the services it provides,NHRC does have a Legal Department, which is in charge with receiving and recording complaints, and with helping individuals to solve or mitigate their problems. The Committee undertakes a number of additional activities, such as visiting the Detention Centres and Prisons in Qatar; training programs for police and other officials to help ensure that abuses are avoided and providing legal advice regarding the sponsorship law or the labour law.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Contact: Visit their Contact page here.
MigrantRights.Org was established to advance the rights of migrants in the Middle East. The Qatar Resource page provides a mapping of resources in host and origin countries, including NGOs, helplines and rights-based organisations.
Qatar LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Qatar.
Qatar COI
Find Qatar Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated May 2023