NIHR Appoints Dr. Maha Al Shehab as Child Rights Commissioner
During its first procedural meeting, the Council of Commissioners of the National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) approved the appointment of Dr. Maha Saleh Al Shehab as Child Rights Commissioner, succeeding Dr. Hooria Al-Dairi, former member of the Council. This appointment comes in line with the Council’s decision to establish the position of Child Rights Commissioner within its membership, with a mandate to address issues facing children, work towards the protection and promotion of their best interests, support public policies, and help provide a safe and nurturing environment for children, in addition to her current duties as a full-time member of the Council of Commissioners.
On this occasion, Eng. Ali Ahmed Alderazi, Chairperson of the NIHR, stated: "The appointment of Dr. Maha reaffirms the Institution’s commitment to the rights of the child and to further strengthening their place in society. She brings with her extensive expertise and high competence, which qualify her to play a pivotal role in monitoring the situation of children’s rights and in contributing to initiatives and recommendations that ensure the fulfillment of the child’s best interests."
It is worth noting that the NIHR established the position of Child Rights Commissioner in June 2023, with a mandate to safeguard and promote the rights and best interests of children, and to support child-related policies, recognizing that children are among the groups most in need of care. This initiative falls within the Institution’s powers under its Establishment Law, which grants it the authority to monitor and address all issues related to human rights, including the rights of the child.
