Arab League chief underscores Arab human rights court

MANAMA- Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Al-Araby stressed on Sunday(May 25th) the significance of creating a planned Arab Court for Human Rights to which Arab citizens can resort when they use up all relevant national methods.

Addressing an international conference on the court, Al-Araby emphasized that the court would enjoy independence as part of Arab demands for political and democratic reforms after years of exclusion and marginalization.

He said the Arab people are experiencing a transitional stage and drastic changes in pursuit of a state of institutions based on justice, equality, democracy and social solidarity, which can be achieved only if human rights are respected and protected.

Earlier in the day, Al-Araby confirmed that the Arab Court for Human Rights will immediately see the light after the Arab League ministerial meeting held next September.

GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani said the human rights court would certainly promote and consolidate the situation of human rights in the Arab world.

He said the approval of the court creation decision came in response to an initiative put forward by Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa out of his belief in the necessity of completing the Arab human rights mechanism.

He regarded the Arab League’s selection of Manama as a seat for the court is a sign of the highly elevated human rights position of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the field of human rights.

The GCC member states are keen on promoting and strengthening human rights and that’s why they have already signed and endorsed several international human rights conventions and treaties, the GCC chief pointed out.-KUNA