Pan-Arab human rights tribunal taking shape

By Danielle Doporto Manama (May 25 - BNA): Bahrain's two-day International Conference on the Arab Court of Human Rights is set to progress the establishment of an Arab regional human rights tribunal in the Kingdom. Approximately 100 people from Bahrain, as well as 135 others from around the region and beyond, will take part in discussions and workshops geared towards generating practical recommendations regarding the parameters of the proposed Court, which will be formally submitted to Arab League Secretary-General Dr. Nabeel Al-Arabi. The recommendations will then be discussed by Arab Foreign Ministers at an upcoming meeting in Kuwait, and will ultimately be submitted for adoption at the Arab League Summit at the end of the year. Vice-President of Bahrain’s National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) Abdullah Al-Derazi told a press briefing that all arrangements for the International Conference have been finalised, and said he looked forward to fruitful discussions. Conference attendees will comprise of internationally-renowned experts in the fields of human rights and judicial systems, including representatives from the American, European and African regional Human Rights Tribunals, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the GCC, the Arab League, and various relevant NGOs. Held under the patronage of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the conference is organised by Bahrain’s National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR), in association with Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee and the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions, supported by Bahrain’s Shura Council and Council of Representatives, and in Partnership with the Arab League and the Arab Parliament. The establishment of the Arab Court of Human Rights was first proposed by HM the King in November 2011. “I will propose to our fellow Arab states that we now move concretely toward the creation of an Arab Court of Human Rights to take its proper place on the international stage,” King Hamad said at the time. He praised the work of other International blocs' regional tribunals, declaring, "the whole world benefits from the jurisprudence of these Courts. Surely, this shows us that there is something missing. Surely, the Arab nations, with our ancient transitions of fairness and justice, also have something to contribute. Surely, we too need to show that our officials are subject to a higher law, and that we can be proud of our traditions of respect for human rights.” The move was endorsed by the Arab League Secretary-General at a meeting of the Arab foreign ministers in 2012, and in September 2013 they chose Bahrain as the permanent headquarters for the Arab Court of Human Rights. Several Arab and International Legal Experts have looked into the proposal, and a committee of government experts was formed by Bahrain's Foreign Ministry to follow-up. Efforts to share ideas and exchange expertise pursuant to the planned Arab Court of Human Rights have persisted, including last year's Manama Conference on Studying the Establishment of an Arab Court of Human Rights, and this year's Public Prosecution Workshop on the latest International Standards for Human Rights Law. According to Arab League bylaws, as soon as seven nations ratify the statute for the Arab Court of Human Rights it is immediately enforceable.