Regional Conference on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights Human rights in the Arab Region: The way forward, Statement by Ms. Navi Pillay United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

20 May 2014

Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am very pleased to welcome you to this first Conference on the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights in the Arab Region.  I regret that I am not able to attend in person.  This event is the result of a fruitful partnership between my Office and the League of Arab States, and I commend the Secretary General of the League, Dr. Nabil Elaraby, for his principled leadership and vision.

Across the Arab world, people continue to struggle for their fundamental civil, cultural, economic, social and political rights. The roots of those struggles lie in social injustice, marginalization and lack of human rights protection.

I have repeatedly called on Governments around the world to listen to people’s grievances and to respond in a positive and constructive manner to their legitimate aspirations for social justice, dignity and fundamental freedoms. Unfortunately, intolerance, marginalisation, impunity, sectarianism and violence remain significant challenges to genuine transitions towards sustainable democracy in a number of countries.

In this region, discrimination against women is a long-standing and urgent concern. Inequalities in terms of economic and social rights across the region are among the root causes of the recent upheavals, and require effective and sustainable responses.

Freedoms of expression, association, assembly and belief are also fundamental to the enjoyment of many other rights. And yet, in many countries, protesters, journalists and human rights activists continue to be targeted by threats and attacks, and incitement to violence and hate speech have increased.

I remain profoundly alarmed by the armed conflict in Syria, which constitutes one of the largest humanitarian and security crisis in the world today. Ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities are especially vulnerable, and they are in need of specific protection, especially amidst rising sectarian tensions. I am also concerned about the situation of the Palestinians, including Palestinian refugees, who continue to suffer from the scourge of wars and occupation. Their long-term grievances should be resolved. 

On a more positive note, several Arab countries have significantly improved their human rights record by ratifying human rights treaties, undertaking legislative reforms, or strengthening their national protection systems by setting up national human rights institutions and increasing their engagement with international human rights mechanisms. I invite all member States of the League of Arab States to increase their engagement with regional and international human rights mechanisms, including the Human Rights Council, its Special Procedures and the Universal Periodic Review. I also invite them to ratify all international human rights treaties without reservations.

My Office looks forward to further enhancing ties with the League of Arab States, so that a strong and strategic partnership can improve human rights in the region. Our joint objectives include the strengthening of regional mechanisms established within the framework of the League of Arab States, notably via the Arab Human Rights Committee and the Arab Court for Human Rights. I also encourage you to prepare the ground for the development of a Regional Human Rights Strategy.

I wish you a fruitful conference and I look forward to learning about its outcomes.

Thank you.