A/HRC/26/35/Add.1 C. 1. National legal and institutional framework National laws 13. The permanent constitution was adopted in 2005. According to its article 6, the State shall respect international charters and conventions and strive to implement all international agreements, charters and conventions to which it is a party. 14. The constitution further provides, in article 35, that all persons are equal before the law and that there shall be no discrimination whatsoever on grounds of sex, race, language or religion. Article 36 states that personal freedom shall be guaranteed and no person may be arrested, detained or searched, nor may his freedom of residence and mobility be restricted save under the provisions of the law; no person may be subjected to torture or any degrading treatment; and torture shall be considered a crime punishable by law. 15. Article 44 guarantees the right of citizens to assemble and article 45 guarantees the right of citizens to establish associations. Article 52 provides every person who is a legal resident of the State protection to his person and property in accordance with the provisions of the law. 16. The main law governing migration is Law no. 4 of 2009 Regarding Regulation of Expatriates’ Entry, Departure, Residence and Sponsorship (the Sponsorship Law). Article 18 provides that each expatriate granted an entry visa to Qatar shall have a sponsor. Apart from women sponsored by the head of the family, minors and visitors staying 30 days or less, all expatriates may only leave the country temporarily or permanently on submission of an exit permit granted by the residence sponsor. 17. The Labour Law of 2004 regulates the employment of all workers, except certain excluded categories (including domestic workers). 2. National institutions and policies 18. The Ministry of Interior is responsible for the entry and exit of migrants and the sponsorship system, including the transfer of sponsorship. The Search and Follow-up Department of the Ministry is responsible for the deportation of migrants and manages the deportation centre. The Human Rights Department receives and investigates complaints from migrants and undertakes visits to the deportation centre. 19. The Ministry of Labour is responsible for labour inspections (both health and safety inspections and worksite inspections), receiving complaints from workers and the recruitment of migrant workers, including certifying contracts and issuing visas and work permits. The Ministry of Labour deals with cases of abuse against migrants by negotiating between the migrant and the employer and it can contact the Ministry of Interior to check if the sponsorship can be transferred. 20. The National Human Rights Committee was established in accordance with Law No. 38 (2002) and reorganized in accordance with Law no. 17 (2010). It is accredited with “A” status by the International Coordination Committee of National Human Rights Institutions. The National Committee undertakes important work to enhance the protection of the human rights of migrants in Qatar, inter alia by assisting them in making complaints to the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour. 21. The Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking was established in 2003 by the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and transferred into a foundation by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. The mission of the Foundation is to protect society from human trafficking and provide integrated care for victims. It operates a shelter for women victims of trafficking. 6