The idea of establishing the United Nations Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region emerged during the 12th Regional Meeting for the Asia region on the promotion and protection of human rights, which was held in Qatar in March 2004.
In 2005, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights welcomed the idea of establishing the Centre. Subsequently, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution No. 60/153, endorsing the establishment of the Centre and welcoming the initiative of the State of Qatar to host it. The Centre operates under the direct supervision of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The resolution also mandated the Centre to organize training and documentation activities in the field of human rights in accordance with international human rights standards, and to support efforts to protect, promote, and spread a culture of human rights in the region. This is to be done in cooperation with governments, specialized UN agencies and programs, national human rights institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
As part of the founding process, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights signed the Host Country Agreement with the State of Qatar in December 2008. The Centre was officially inaugurated by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in May 2009 in the Qatari capital, Doha.
