07 July 2015 - The Philippine Embassy in Doha is pleased to announce the official designation of its Social Welfare Attaché, Ms. Judith Y. Bacwaden, as the Filipino community’s representative to the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) of Qatar. As Filipino community representative, Ms. Bacwaden will be assisted by a team of Filipino volunteers in manning the help desk of NHRC that will receive requests for assistance from Filipinos in Qatar.

“This is just the first stage of our initiative to further promote and protect human rights in Qatar. This also symbolizes NHRC’s recognition of the contributions of migrant communities in Qatar, and commitment to continued engagement with them,” according to a statement by the NHRC.

The help desks for Filipino, Indian, Egyptian and Nepalese communities in Qatar were earlier launched last May 12. Among the cases that the Filipino help desk is expected to receive involve illegal termination, salary deduction, intimidation, lack of facilities, non-receipt of benefits and non-payment of end of service.

“I commend this initiative as this will complement the work of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)/Embassy, as well as the assistance being given by the Qatari Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and labor courts,” Labor Attaché Leopoldo B. De Jesus said.

“Ms. Bacwaden’s designation as Filipino community representative will solidify the partnership between the Philippine and Qatari governments in protecting the rights and welfare of our kababayans in Qatar,” Philippine Ambassador to Qatar Wilfredo C. Santos said.

NHRC is similar to the Philippines’ Commission on Human Rights (CHR) as it also enjoys autonomy from the Qatari government in the exercise of its mandate related to human rights.

Ms. Bacwaden assumed her duty as Social Welfare Attache on 26 May 2014. She started her career with the Department of Social Welfare and Development in 1976, with an interlude from 1981 to 1990 when she worked for the CSO sector. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Saint Louis University in Baguio City, as well as a Master’s in Social Work from the University of the Philippines. END