Following the approval of a draft law submitted by the Council of Ministers, the Emir of the State of Qatar issued Decree Law No 38 of 2002 on 11 November 2002 which established the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar. This was subsequently amended by Decree Law 17 of 2010, which sets out the mandate of the Committee.

The Committee is a legal entity with an independent budget and a wide mandate to protect and promote human rights.