The Chairman of National Human Rights Committee Dr Ali bin Sumaikh Al Marri addressing the conference.
DOHA: A senior official of the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) has called for amending the Arab charter on human rights to give more powers to rights groups in the region.
“Several changes have taken place in the Arab world and there are not enough international laws to address these changes. So it is very necessary to upgrade and reform the Arab system for human rights to protect the rights of our people,” said NHRC chairman Dr Ali bin Sumaikh Al Marri.
He was addressing the inaugural session of Arab Conference for Developing Arab League (AL) Human Rights System, which began at the Ritz Carlton yesterday.
“The Arab charter on human rights should be revised with additional protocols and new agreements to give more powers to Arab human rights organisations protect the rights of weaker sections of the society,” he added.
He said governments and civil society organisations should work together to meet the aspirations of the Arab people for their better future “so that they could live with freedom and dignity”.
The two-day event is organised by Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee in collaboration with the Arab Institutions Network for Human Rights.
The President of Arab Parliament, Ahmed Mohammad Al Shami said the Syrian people have been deprived of their basic human rights.
“We must work to develop our human rights system and enact laws to protect our people and their rights so that what is going on with the innocent people in Syria will not be repeated,” he added.
“Unfortunately the violations of human rights in Arab world are increasing especially at a time of the Arab Spring. In several cities of Syria like Al Qaseer, residents are facing a severe humanitarian crisis and living in miserable conditions,” said Ahmed bin Halli, Deputy Secretary General of Arab League.
“Issues raised during Arab revolutions that started from Tunisia demanding economic and social reforms had already been addressed by the Arab League that issued two resolutions in 2004 calling for radical reforms and changes in Arab world,” said Halli. The Peninsula
