OPENING STATEMENT BY MS. MEHR KHAN WILLIAMS DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER ON THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS IN THE ARAB WORLD

D128/02

OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS






Cairo, Egypt, 6-8 March 2005










UNITED NATIONS



Deputy High Commissioner for Human RightsDHC’s
Cairo Statement - Draft 1 March(draft, 280205) (prepared by NIU and ARU)



Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure and privilege to participate in this very important First Conference. I would like to would like to join previous speakers in welcoming all of you. And also to thank all the participants of the conference and to our partners, particularly the In this respect, National Council for Human Rights of Egypt and especially Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali. I also want to thank the the and Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt for hosting the conference, and . I would also like to thank the League of Arab States and UNDP for working with us to organize it.the conferenceT has likewise contributed to this event; I would like to extent my thanks to them as well.

This is the first meeting on national human rights institutions in the Arab Region. It is a very significant event. During this meeting, we will try to better understand critical issues such as the purpose and role of national institutions, their composition and partnerships. We will also share experiences and best practices and address challenges that national institutions face as they attempt to play their role in the promotion and protection of human rights. But the conference is not just about how national institutions should be formed and how they should function. It is essentially about exploring how all human rights could be better respected and realized for all people in your region. Thus, I am very pleased that we also have many other experienced partners and friends from within and from outside the region who work for this objective and who will share their own experiences with all of us. Thank you all for coming.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, has had a keen interest in this meeting and had planned to be here herself to open it. Unfortunately, she was not able to come but she has asked me to convey her best wishes for the success of the conference to all of you.

We are also sorry that Mr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali was unable to participate. He has been personally involved in the planning of the conference and I am sure he will be keenly interested in its outcome and follow up. We wish him a speedy recovery and if you agree we could send him a message from all of us.

Participants from 19 Arab countries are present here today. Only two of them are from national institutions accredited with the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions. Others present are either from institutions in the process of accreditation or are composed of parliamentarians and officials from ministries of justice. Also present are representatives from non-governmental organizations and from civil society. They have a very important role to play in safeguarding human rights. We look forward to listening to their experiences and to learning how best practices could be adapted and challenges addressed in the region.

All of us here believe in the fundamental principles laid out in the NCharter of the United Nations with its clear commitment to the centrality of human rights. We also know that the promotion and protection of human rights are essential to peace and sustainable economic and social development. The implementation of human rights norms is needed at all levels, international, regional and national. This meeting, while seeking regional and international cooperation in ensuring the attainment of human rights, will mainly focus on the national level. States have the primary responsibility for ensuring that all people, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable, are supported in realizing their rights. But in order to discharge that responsibility successfully, they must work closely with civil society. National human rights institutions often play the role of bridge between the state and civil society.

The civilizations and religions which are at the heart of our countries – especially Islam - have significantly contributed to the universality and indivisibility of human rights. They have also contributed to the pursuit of human rights values common to all of us.

We meet at a time of considerable change in the region. There have been many positive developments in the past few years which should make our work easier.with These include the holding of multi-party legislative and municipal elections, establishing national human rights institutions, facilitating the work of NGOs, respecting the right to freedom of expression and improving the status of women. Human rights NGOs are gradually emerging in the region, building awareness, introducing human rights education, providing legal assistance, conducting research, and rehabilitating victims of human rights violations. These are all very positive developments.

The adoption of the Arab Charter for Human Rights by the Arab Summit in Tunis in May 2004 is also an important achievement and will contribute to the promotion of human rights issues in the region. We haveHCHRur office been pleased to actively support this process. The High Commissioner . We hopes that the next Arab Summit in Algeria will give priority attention to human rights issues. I urge all governments to ratify the major United NationsN human rights conventions, as well as including the Arab Charter, and to actively interact with United Nations mechanisms, both the human rights treaty bodies and those of the Commission on Human Rights. Many of them have made requests for visits to a number of countries in the region and positive responses have been pending for some time. It is important for governments would particularly and to extend standing invitations to the mechanisms special procedures of the Commission.on Human Rights, their






Excellencies,
The realization of human rights at the country level remains a priority of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. In this context OHCHR envisions the establishment of independent national human rights institutions a vehicle, which plays an important role in the promotion and protection of human rights at the national level. The Principles relating to the status and functioning of national institutions for protection and promotion of human rights, known as the Paris Principles, represent the benchmark against which national institutions are measured. They provide important guidance on issues such as legislation; composition and independence; competencies and responsibilities; handling of complaints; and methods of operation, including how to interact with governments and civil societies.

Building national protection systems in accordance with international human rights standards is the cornerstone of the Secretary General Reform Agenda, as well is a goal for OHCHR. A mean to achieve this goal is the creation of effective national human rights institutions, and it is the objective of this conference; to encourage states that have not yet established independent NHRIs to establish such institutions, and to strengthen the existing institutions in compliance with Paris Principles. This will be attempted by identifying indicators for independence and by discussing the effective functions of NHRIs and their significance in the promotion and protection of human rights. Also, the exchange of experience among NHRIs and learning lessons from other regions is vital since most NHRIs in the Arab world are relatively new. In this regard I would like to welcome the representatives of NIs from Africa, Asia, Europe and Americas and thank them for their participation. Another objective of this conference is to promote greater interaction between NHRI and conventional and extra conventional mechanisms of the UN. Finally, the conference will seek to promote the establishment of an informal network among the participants for future dialogue and exchange of experience on issues related to NHRIs.

Ladies and Gentlemen,


The conditions for the enjoyment of human rights in the region are certainly improving. There is a real movement for positive change. But, as we all know, there is a great deal more which needs to be done. Many civil, political, economic and social and cultural rights remain unrealized, particularly for women. At a time when the international community is reviewing the Fourth World Conference on Women we must increase our efforts to ensure the full realization of all rights for women, including the right to vote. Violence against women in all its forms must be countered.

The road to the realisation of human rights for all is neither straight nor short. Many challenges remain both in this region and in the world globally. In September this year, world leaders will gather again in New York to review the progress made since the year 2000 when they issued the Millennium Declaration from which the MilleniumMillennium Development Goals are derived. It will be clear then that not enough progress has been made and the pace of change needs to be considerably accelerated. This acceleration can only be done if there is more openness and a deeper involvement of civil society in the achievement of national goals and the fulfilment of human rights. By working on behalf of the poor and the most neglected, non-governmental organisations provide invaluable assistance in dealing with potential sources of conflict and of instability. They bring substance to the debate, and yes, they do ask difficult questions for which we must find innovative, open and honest solutions.

Education is an essential pillar for the realisation of human rights. We must find ways to reach those who do not benefit from the same knowledge which exists in this room. They must push for human rights education for all. Women, men and children must be empowered and educated so that they can claim their rights.

Let me now turn specifically to the work of national institutions. This conference intends to encourage those states that have not yet established independent national institutions to do so, and to strengthen existing institutions to be in compliance with the Paris Principles. Its aim is also to ensure that such institutions, and all of us collectively, advance respect for human rights in a manner which is felt by those people who need such institutions: the poorest and most vulnerable people.


During the next few days you will have in depth discussions on the Paris Principles, but let me just place particular emphasis on three important areas: independence, accessibility, and working with others.

Independence of the institution is the fundamental. It is element, which goes to the core as to whether an institution is legitimately and transparently going to protect the rights of the most vulnerable. Without both a perception and a reality of independence, national institutions lose credibility, lose confidence and, in the end, become ineffective. What does independence mean? You will be hear how it is important that you exercise your mandate without influence but with accountabilityassessing what it means to deal with mandates without external influence; that you receive adequate funding and manage such fundinghow you receive and manage your finances; that your composition reflects the fullness of your societycan you define your own priorities; what your composition is – including equal representation for women - and that your how your members and staff are appointed and recruited transparently and not by executive fiat; and that you line up to the challenge you face on walking on that bridge ; and how you act as a bridge between the Government and civil society. Many distinguished participants – but I hope next time we meet we may have more women. It is very important to have women on national institutions. It is our experience that in order for women to reach out for help, they need a sympathetic environment to be able to talk to other women who may be better able to understand their concerns.I ask you to be reflective on this cornerstone issue and seek ways to ensure such independence.


On accessibility national institutions must be geographically and physically accessible. National institutions must be geographically and physically accessible. The institutiony must proactively reach out to people, and be reached by them, including the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, such as those in detention, minoritiesy and Iindigenous Peoplesgroups, persons with special needs in areas such as culture, language and health and those with disabilities. They are the people who need our support the most. They must be able to reach you.National institutions should ensure that there is access to advice, advocacy and complaints procedures to seek remedies for violations of their rights. We argue that national institutions’ mandates should include the power to consider individual complaints and petitions and carry out investigations.

We recognize that facing establishing such institutions will take time and pose challenges. So we must , wework with governments and civil society to ensure that they are proberlyproperly established. Our experience has demonstrated that tThe process is a critical one; . Iif done properly, it will ensure that everyone all those for whom the institution should be of merit – government, parliament, NGOs, academia, trade unions, and others which form the richness of civil society –will feel that the institution is truly national and is participatory in its approach, and hence can work on their behalf.

The establishment of national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles is of fundamental importance and it is our great hope that this conference will provide the information and assistance to initiate the creation of national institutions and that the sharing of experiences will encourage a future regional cooperation between existing national human rights institutions.


This is the first conference to be, but should not be the last. I take this opportunity to urge governments of the region to ratify all human rights conventions, including the Arab Charter, and to actively interact with UN mechanisms, and to extend standing invitations to thematic special procedures of the Commission on Human Rights, to visit their respective countries.


So where do we go from here?. In line with the priorities of the Secretary-General’s reform programme and of the High Commissioner, I strongly encourageinvite all of you to consider ways and means in which to create or strengthen national human rights protection systems: these are the true building blocks for peace and development everywhere.

OHCHR offers technical assistance in the field of human rights to several Arab states. One of the most important Technical Assistance Projects we have in the region is in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, where we have been working since 1996 to support the Palestinian Authority and Civil Society in strengthening their capacitities in the field of human rights. We also have regional programmes with the League of Arab States, the Arab Institute for Human Rights and the Arab Organization for Human Rights. We in OHCHR are also able and willing to support your work through our regional office in Beirut.

In addition, wWe have a dedicated Unit at Headquarters in Geneva, the only one of its kind in the United Nations, which specializes in Nnational hHuman rRights Iinstitutions and . The Unit provides advice on draft legislation, best practices of other institutions , and is a conduit for you in terms of your needsand could help you in this important area. Many of you are already engaging with the Unit; I would encourage you to do so and tap into its knowledge. Working closely with other colleagues and those within our office you can learn more about the potential of national institutions, share best practices and possibly even avoid certain pitfalls based on the experience of others.

Let me conclude by saying that you now have the opportunityOur Office has as its present strategy the following regarding national institutions:

Providing advice concerning the establishment and strengthening of national institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles;
Enhancing support to national institutions as part of the overall efforts of the Office at strengthening national protection systems;
Finding effective ways of ensuring that the experience of national institutions is utilized at the international level including through the Commission on Human Rights, Treaty Bodies and Special Mechanisms;
Enhancing guidance and advice to Office colleagues as well as to other United Nations colleagues in connection with national institutions as well as quality control with respect to the application of the Paris Principles;
Developing tools, training materials and information mechanisms to better inform on the work of national institutions and assist them in their work;
Providing assistance and support to the regional networks of national institutions; and
Creating a space for them to engage on a wide array of thematic issues.

to seize on the positive human rights developments taking place in your region. Let us together build on them, deepen them and make them meaningful to all. The space and opportunity that this Conference has presented to you is a welcome one. I encourage you to use the time available to you in the maximum and to develop appropriate plans to move forward the human rights agenda within your countries. A national institution may be an important element of that agenda. We stand ready along with our other partners to assist you in this endeavor.

Finally,

I would like to wish you all the success in this conference and in your sincere efforts to contributing to the promotion and protection of human rights both internationally, regionally as well as within your own countries in the Arab region. It is by working closely together at all levels in implementing universal human rights norms that we can really achieve the purposes and principles of the United NationsN Charter and so make an essential contribution not only to individuals who need our support but we can also contribute to peace and security for all of us.


Thank you. .