OHRC takes part in Arab human rights network meeting

Nouakchott: A delegation of Oman Human Rights Commission, headed by its chairman Shaikh Abdullah bin Shuwain al Hosni took part in the 19th General Assembly of the Doha-based Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions in Nouakchott, capital of Mauritania, last week.

The Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions concluded its international conference “Integrating Human Rights into Public Policies” which accompanied the Networks General Assembly in the capital Nouakchott on July 27 and 28. The General Assembly witnessed the transfer of the Networks presidency from the National Human Rights Committee in the State of Qatar to the National Human Rights Commission in Mauritania. The National Council for Human Rights in Egypt was elected to host the next General Assembly.

In a press statement, the President of the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions noted that the conference resulted in many important decisions in the field of promoting and protecting human rights in Arab countries.

The conference witnessed participation of representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Development Program and the Arab Institute for Human Rights, in the presence of representatives of all national institutions that are members of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions, and civil society organisations.

The conference aimed at emphasising the importance of human rights, sustainable development plans, enhancing awareness and education for various segments of society, enhancing the capacities of workers in the areas of monitoring and follow-up, and proposing programmes to build and raise capacities for human rights activists.

During the conference, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions and the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation in human rights for Southwest Asia and the Arab Region.

The main session of the conference was devoted to discussing the transcendence of international standards over national law when states accede to international treaties, the role of legislative bodies in adopting a human rights-based approach in public policies, and the role of international treaty and non-treaty mechanisms in developing and strengthening the system of tracking and evaluating human rights in public policies.

Al Muathir bin Ahmed al Siyabi, a specialist of international organisations of OHRC was chosen as its rapporteur. Muhammad al Rawahi, a member of OHRC, was nominated to the conference’s drafting committee.

The meeting of the 19th General Assembly approved the annual report of the network, agenda of the the year was reviewed, and the follow-up to the recommendations of the Arab Network regarding the Palestinian issue. It also discussed developments in the process of accreditation of Arab institutions and the possibility of establishing a national human rights institution in Somalia.

Apart from the Chairman and Al Siyabi, the Oman delegation included Mohammed bin Ahmed al Rawahi, member of the committee and Saeed bin Saleh al Abri, director of the Communication and Information Department.