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The World Cup of Human Rights Violations and the Inertia of Involved Institutions

The 22nd FIFA World Cup, hosted by Qatar, has been overshadowed by ongoing violations of Human Rights and LGBTQI+ rights.

Brief Context on Human Rights

The definition of Human Rights transcribed in the Vienna Declaration of Human Rights (1948) remains the most significant articulation of human rights to date:

Article 1
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2

1. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.

[...]

Article 3
Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and personal security.

[...]

The Geopolitical Weight of Qatar

Before delving into why international organizations have remained largely inert in the face of events in Qatar during its World Cup preparations—and seemingly throughout the event—it is essential to consider the country’s significant economic influence in the region, driven by its vast oil reserves.

Qatar, once under British control, gained independence only in 1971. This makes it an international actor with a fragile social structure and little to no framework for safeguarding human rights.

The World Cup of Human Rights Violations

On December 2, 2010, defying all odds, Qatar shocked the world by securing the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The country outbid the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, becoming the first Middle Eastern nation to host the planet's biggest football event.

The following years were marked by the exploitation of labor in stadium construction sites, with countless reports of human rights violations, especially those concerning foreign workers. This issue stems primarily from Qatar’s practice of shifting responsibility for migrant workers to the private sector through a legal framework known as “Kafala.”

The “Kafala” system, inspired by Islamic Sharia law and formalized under Qatari labor laws, places migrant workers in vulnerable positions, rendering them dependent on and subservient to employers and private entities.

In addition to migrant labor rights violations, women and the LGBTQI+ population also face severe restrictions in Qatar. Same-sex relationships are prohibited and can result in imprisonment by Qatari authorities. Women must obtain permission from male guardians to exercise basic rights, such as marrying, traveling abroad, or accessing some reproductive healthcare services.

When combined with FIFA’s historically lenient stance on these issues, the situation in Qatar exemplifies a territory rife with human rights violations and tacit complicity from numerous nations.

 

‹ Back

The World Cup of Human Rights Violations and the Inertia of Involved Institutions

The 22nd FIFA World Cup, hosted by Qatar, has been overshadowed by ongoing violations of Human Rights and LGBTQI+ rights.

Brief Context on Human Rights

The definition of Human Rights transcribed in the Vienna Declaration of Human Rights (1948) remains the most significant articulation of human rights to date:

Article 1
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2

1. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status.

[...]

Article 3
Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and personal security.

[...]

The Geopolitical Weight of Qatar

Before delving into why international organizations have remained largely inert in the face of events in Qatar during its World Cup preparations—and seemingly throughout the event—it is essential to consider the country’s significant economic influence in the region, driven by its vast oil reserves.

Qatar, once under British control, gained independence only in 1971. This makes it an international actor with a fragile social structure and little to no framework for safeguarding human rights.

The World Cup of Human Rights Violations

On December 2, 2010, defying all odds, Qatar shocked the world by securing the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The country outbid the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, becoming the first Middle Eastern nation to host the planet's biggest football event.

The following years were marked by the exploitation of labor in stadium construction sites, with countless reports of human rights violations, especially those concerning foreign workers. This issue stems primarily from Qatar’s practice of shifting responsibility for migrant workers to the private sector through a legal framework known as “Kafala.”

The “Kafala” system, inspired by Islamic Sharia law and formalized under Qatari labor laws, places migrant workers in vulnerable positions, rendering them dependent on and subservient to employers and private entities.

In addition to migrant labor rights violations, women and the LGBTQI+ population also face severe restrictions in Qatar. Same-sex relationships are prohibited and can result in imprisonment by Qatari authorities. Women must obtain permission from male guardians to exercise basic rights, such as marrying, traveling abroad, or accessing some reproductive healthcare services.

When combined with FIFA’s historically lenient stance on these issues, the situation in Qatar exemplifies a territory rife with human rights violations and tacit complicity from numerous nations.