A/HRC/27/15 employment and business opportunities for young people throughout the Arab world; and “Reach Out to Asia (ROTA)”, an initiative to enable communities in Asia to overcome obstacles and establish links in order to achieve education for all. 12. Since February 2010, Qatar had taken serious steps to implement the recommendations of the Working Group at the national and the international levels in order to promote human rights, based on its enduring desire to improve the human rights situation in Qatar and to strengthen constructive cooperation with the relevant special procedures. That desire had been confirmed when Qatar had accepted the recommendation to extend an open and standing invitation to all special procedures mandate holders. Qatar had received a visit from the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants in November 2013 and, in January 2014, had welcomed the visit of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. It had received the visit of a delegation of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights in March 2014, as well as the visits of numerous nongovernmental human rights organizations. Since May 2010, Qatar had continued to strengthen its relationship with the OHCHR through bilateral consultations. Moreover, Qatar continued to support the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region in Doha. 13. Qatar faced particular challenges as it underwent a rapid and historic transition towards complete and comprehensive development. It had recorded unprecedented rates of growth and economic recovery, and had been ranked first among the countries of North Africa and the Middle East and eighteenth on the global scale by the World Economic Forum in the Human Capital Report 2013. Although there had been numerous developments in Qatar with regard to the promotion and protection of human rights in terms of legislation, institutions and awareness, some temporary obstacles remained. Those included the unprecedented population increase of over 100 per cent in recent years, and the fact that legislative and institutional developments were recent and that Qatar had only recently dealt with international human rights mechanisms. 14. Qatar emphasized its appreciation for the contribution of expatriate workers, whom it considered to be real partners in the development and advancement project pursued by the State. 15. In the context of enhancing and strengthening the legislative structure, Qatar was conducting a comprehensive review of labour laws and of procedures and policies to promote and protect the rights of workers, citizens and residents in accordance with international standards. The competent authorities were also considering a draft regulatory mechanism for domestic workers. In addition, the Entry, Exit, Residence and Sponsorship of Expatriates Act and the Labour Code were under review, with a view to their being developed. 16. Qatar was considering accession to both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 17. The delegation of Qatar was ready to work to develop appropriate strategies and mechanisms to follow up on the recommendations that the Working Group would put forward. Qatar realized that much more needed to be done; therefore, it would continue to build on and improve its achievements through the exchange of experiences, taking advantage of international best practices. Lastly, it should be emphasized that political will and a supportive environment for the promotion and protection of human rights existed in Qatar. 5