Arab Charter on Human Rights
The Arab Charter on Human Rights was adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States on 22 May 2004 and affirms the principles contained in the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam. It has been in force since 15 March 2008. A number of traditional human rights are provided for, including the right to liberty and security of persons, equality of persons before the law, protection of persons from torture, the right to own private property, freedom to practice religious observance and freedom of peaceful assembly and association. The Charter also provides for the election of a seven-person Committee of Experts on Human Rights to consider States' reports.
A first version was adopted on 15 September 1994, but no state had ratified it.
On January 24th 2008, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour welcomed [1] the entry into force of the 2004 version of the Charter, which states :
Article 2(3) All forms of racism, Zionism and foreign occupation and domination constitute an impediment to human dignity and a major barrier to the exercise of the fundamental rights of peoples; all such practices must be condemned and efforts must be deployed for their elimination. [2]
Following criticisms about this statement [3] [4], Arbour distanced herself from some aspects of the charter [5]. The charter is listed in the web site of her office, among texts adopted by international groups aimed at promoting and consolidating democracy [6]
Source: Malcolm N. Shaw's International Law 4th edn - CUP 2005 at pages 365-366.
[edit] References
- ^ Arab Charter on Human Rights enters into force, Publication Date 25/1/2008 www.mynews.in
- ^ League of Arab States, Revised Arab Charter on Human Rights, May 22, 2004, reprinted in 12 Int'l Hum. Rts. Rep. 893 (2005), entered into force March 15, 2008, available online via University of Minnesota
- ^ The UN enables hatemongers, by John Robson, The Ottawa Citizen, Published: Friday, February 01, 2008 www.canada.com
- ^ UN Rights Chief Must Clarify Endorsement of Arab Charter with Anti-Semitic Provisions www.unwatch.org
- ^ STATEMENT BY UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ON THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE ARAB CHARTER ON HUMAN RIGHTS, Geneva, 30 January 2008, www.unhchr.ch
- ^ www.ohchr.org
[edit] External links
- Text of the 2004 version of the Charter, via the University of Minnesota.
