A/HRC/44/39/Add.3 I. Introduction 1. The Government of the State of Qatar extends thanks to Ms. Koumbou Boly Barry, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education for her visit to State of Qatar from 8-16 December 2019 which was the first of its kind under this mandate. 2. The Government of the State of Qatar has paid attention to the constructive discussions held with the Special Rapporteur during her visit that Qatar regards as an important opportunity to consider the achievements made and the challenges faced in this regard. 3. The Government of the State of Qatar wishes to thank the Special Rapporteur for commending “its willingness to welcome and find solutions for Qatari students (531 students) who, during the diplomatic crisis in the region, had to interrupt their studies in some of the neighboring countries and return home”. 4. The Government of the State of Qatar also expresses its thanks to the Special Rapporteur for congratulating Qatar for “the priority given to providing quality education for all and the numerous measures adopted in this regard”. We note the Special Rapporteur’s appreciation of "in particular, the willingness of many (national) authorities concerned to build a modern educational system on a global level that provides students with first-class education, similar to the education provided anywhere in the world,”, and “the significant commitment of Qatar to regional and international cooperation in upholding the rights to education for all as well as the crucial work of the Education Above All foundation and the Qatar Foundation, which is making a real difference for many people within and outside the State of Qatar”. 5 .The Government of the State of Qatar has taken note of the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur and is pleased to note that work is already underway to implement a number of these recommendations, including ratification of the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education of 1960, development of a very wide variety of so-called "community" or private international schools, and promoting the right to education at the international level. II. Second: General context: A. International legal framework and international cooperation: 6. Referring to what was stated in paragraph (8), the reservation referred in this para does not include approval of any type of corporal punishment and has nothing to do with the right to education, as Article (8) paragraph (16) of the assessment of the student’s behavior policy in schools states the need to refrain from non-educational methods in addressing student disciplinary infractions, such as physical and psychological abuse of all kinds, provoking a student by any means, exposing him/her to contempt and ridicule or collective punishment for a violation committed by a student. 7. Referring to what was stated in paragraph (9), the State of Qatar issued a declaration on what is meant by 'trade unions' and their related issues, in line with the provisions of the Labour Law and Qatar national legislation of. Accordingly, what is meant by 'trade unions' and their related issues in Article (8) of the International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights and Article (22) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, according to the ratification decree, is stated in Law No. 14 of 2004 Promulgating the Labour Law and its amendments in the twelfth and thirteenth chapters of the law entitled (workers’ organizations & Joint Committees, Collective Negotiation and Joint Agreements). 8. The Qatari legislator has ensured male and female teachers in private schools and communities subject to the provisions of the Labor Law, participation in improving and the regulating working environment, hearing of individual and collective disputes and attempting the amicable settlement thereof, through participation in joint labor committees. Article (126) of the Labor Law stating that the joint committee shall undertake the study and discussion of 2