Abstract
Qatar will host the World Cup event in 2022. However, the country’s human rights record is the reason for concern. Reports of forced labor and breaches of migrant workers’ rights have emanated from the government. Relations have also been made concerning the safety of workers building World Cup infrastructure. Canada has ratified the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. This research paper aims to investigate the link between soccer and human rights in Canada and Qatar. FIFA has been asked to rethink giving Qatar the 2022 World Cup. Qatar has taken several measures to improve the country’s human rights condition. The World Cup might be used to draw attention to the situation of migrant workers and raise pressure on Qatar’s government to improve their working conditions. Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup in 2022. The World Cup provides a chance to effect good change in Qatar, which is critical given the country’s foremost human rights issues. The Canadian government has been a vocal supporter of human rights in Qatar and has worked with the Qatari authorities to improve working conditions in the nation ahead of the World Cup. The tournament will be held in Qatar in 2022. Several games will be played in Canada as the match develops. The Canadian government has collaborated with Qatari civil society groups to enhance migrant workers’ rights. This research investigates the link between soccer and human rights protection in Qatar and Canada. Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Canada has always urged Qatar to do more to enhance human rights. Others, though, say that Canada should not assist a nation with such a dismal record of human rights protection.
Keywords: FIFA World Cup, Qatar, Canada Soccer, Human Rights.
Introduction
The World Cup is coming to Qatar in 2022, and many are concerned about the country’s human rights record (Katzman, 2021). Canada is one of the countries that has been chosen to host matches during the tournament. This research report will explore the relationship between soccer and human rights in Qatar and Canada. Human rights organizations have criticized Qatar for its treatment of migrant workers, who make up the vast majority of the country’s population. Migrant workers often face exploitation and abuse, and there have been reports of workers being forced to work in dangerous conditions. Some workers have even died while working on World Cup-related projects.
Canada soccer association has been praised for its commitment to human rights. The country is a signatory to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and has ratified several international human rights treaties (May et al., 2017). Canada is also home to many refugees and has welcomed immigrants from all over the world. Despite its human rights record, Qatar has been chosen to host the 2022 World Cup. This has led to calls for a boycott of the tournament, and some countries have even said that they would not send their teams to Qatar.
Canada, on the other hand, has said that it will participate in the World Cup. Some have criticized this decision and believe Canada should not support a country with such a poor human rights record (Beissel & Kohe, 2020). However, others have argued that Canada should use its participation in the World Cup to engage with Qatar on the issue of human rights. They believe that by participating in the tournament, Canada can help bring about positive change in Qatar. This research report is designed to explore the arguments for and against Canada’s participation in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It will also examine the potential impact of the tournament on human rights in Qatar.
Background
Qatar has been criticized for its human rights record in recent years, particularly concerning its treatment of migrant workers. There have been reports of workers being treated poorly and, in some cases, forced to work in dangerous conditions. There is also concern about the working and living conditions of migrant workers in Qatar and an essential service (Scharfenort, 2012).
Since the announcement that Qatar would host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, there has been controversy surrounding the country’s human rights record. With concerns about the treatment of migrant workers, the risk of forced labor, and the country’s strict laws on freedom of expression, FIFA has been calling to reconsider its decision to allow Qatar to host the World Cup (Ganji, 2016).
There is no doubt that Qatar has come under scrutiny for its human rights record in recent years. However, it is essential to note that the country has made some progress in recent years, including ratifying the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and acceding to the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (Katzman, 2021). There have also been changes to the country’s labor laws, including introducing a minimum wage for migrant workers.
Nonetheless, there are still serious concerns about the human rights situation in Qatar. Migrant workers comprise the vast majority of the country’s workforce and continue to face exploitation and abuse. There have also been reports of forced labor and human trafficking in Qatar. In addition, the country’s laws on freedom of expression are among the most restrictive in the world, and journalists and dissenters have been harassed, detained, and imprisoned.
Given Qatar’s serious human rights concerns, there have been calls for FIFA to reconsider its decision to allow the country to host the World Cup (Ganji, 2016). There is no doubt that the treatment of migrant workers and the risk of forced labor are serious issues that must be addressed. However, it is essential to remember that the World Cup is a global event that can be used to bring about positive change (Scharfenort, 2012). For example, the World Cup can be used to raise awareness of the plight of migrant workers and to pressure the Qatari government to improve their working conditions. It can also highlight the country’s restrictions on freedom of expression and call for reform.
Ultimately, the decision on whether or not to allow Qatar to host the World Cup is complex. There are serious human rights concerns in the country that need to be addressed. However, the World Cup is also an opportunity to bring about positive change (Ganji, 2016). It is up to FIFA to weigh all the factors involved and make a decision that is in the sport’s best interests and its fans.
The Canadian government has strongly supported human rights in Qatar since the country was awarded the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In particular, Canada has been working to ensure that migrant workers in Qatar have their rights protected (Beissel & Kohe, 2020). This includes providing financial support to organizations that help migrant workers and working with the Qatari government to improve labor laws and conditions for workers. Canada has also been vocal in calling for an end to the discrimination and exploitation of migrant workers in Qatar.
There is a potential for Canada and Qatar to work together to improve the human rights situation in Qatar leading up to the World Cup. Canada’s experience in soccer and its commitment to human rights could be valuable resources for Qatar as it works to improve the human rights situation in the country.
In recent years, Canada and Qatar have worked together to ensure the enhancement of human rights during the 2022 World Cup. Canada has been a strong advocate for human rights in Qatar and has been working with the Qatari government to improve conditions for workers in the lead-up to the World Cup.
In 2015, Canada and Qatar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation in labor rights and migrant worker protection. The MOU commits both countries to promoting and protecting the rights of migrant workers and to sharing information and best practices on labor rights (Finbow, 2017). In 2016, Canada and Qatar launched a Joint Action Plan on migrant worker rights. The Joint Action Plan sets out specific actions that both countries will take to improve labor rights in Qatar, including improving working conditions, protecting workers’ rights, and increasing transparency and accountability. In 2017, the Canadian government released a report on implementing the Joint Action Plan, which found that progress had been made on some fronts but that more needed to be done to implement the Plan fully.
The Canadian government has also been working with civil society organizations in Qatar to promote the rights of migrant workers (Beissel & Kohe, 2020). In 2017, the Canadian government supported a workshop for civil society organizations on labor rights in Qatar (Katzman, 2021). The workshop provided a forum for discussion on the challenges faced by migrant workers in Qatar and ways to address these challenges.
Conclusion
Qatar, a country with a human rights record that has drawn criticism, will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Canada is one of the countries hosting games throughout the tournament. The United States and Australia are two examples of more nations. This research paper examines the relationship between soccer and the defense of human rights in Qatar and Canada. Advocates for human rights in Qatar have been critical of the country’s treatment of migrant workers, who comprise the vast majority of the population. People from other countries frequently face exploitation and abuse when they are brought in to work, and there have been reports of workers being forced to work in dangerous conditions. Workers on World Cup-related building projects have even lost their lives.
Meanwhile, Canada has gained recognition for its commitment to safeguarding human rights. The country has ratified numerous international treaties protecting human rights, and the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights is also recognized. Canada is a country that welcomes immigrants from all over the world and is already home to a substantial community of refugees. Despite its abysmal human rights record, Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Because of this, some people have called for a boycott of the tournament, and a few countries have declared they will not send their teams to Qatar. Canada, on the other hand, has already announced that it will be attending the tournament. Some have spoken out against this decision, arguing that Canada should not support a country with a poor history of protecting human rights. Others, however, have argued that Canada should use its presence at the World Cup to talk to Qatar about human rights to improve the country’s image. They believe Canada’s participation in the tournament will help further the positive changes in Qatar.
This research paper examines and evaluates the arguments for and against Canada’s participation in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The event’s potential impact on human rights in Qatar has also been studied. Canada has strongly supported Qatar’s attempts to improve its human rights record since the nation was chosen to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Canada has actively promoted the protection of migrant workers’ rights in Qatar. These workers have just been sent to Qatar for their jobs. Giving money to organizations that help migrant workers and collaborating with the government of Qatar to improve working conditions are two examples of this. This also includes providing funding to groups that aid migrant workers.
Finally, in the run-up to the World Cup, Canada and Qatar may work together to improve human rights in the country. Canada’s soccer experience and devotion to human rights might be significant assets for Qatar as it works to improve the human rights situation in the country.
References
Beissel, A. S., & Kohe, G. Z. (2020). United as one: the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup hosting vision and the symbolic politics of legacy. Managing Sport and Leisure, 1-21.
Finbow, R. G. (2017). The limits of regionalism: NAFTA’s labor accord. Routledge.
Ganji, S. K. (2016). Leveraging the World Cup: Mega sporting events, human rights risk, and worker welfare reform in Qatar. Journal on Migration and Human Security, 4(4), 221–259.
Katzman, K. (2021). Qatar: Governance, security, and US policy (p. 5). Congressional Research Service.
May, L., & Delston, J. B. (2017). United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In Applied Ethics (pp. 54-57). Routledge.
Scharfenort, N. (2012). Urban development and social change in Qatar: the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Journal of Arabian Studies, 2(2), 209-230.