Cairo: The 61st Session of the Arab Charter Committee on Human Rights began here today, bringing together representatives of the joint Arab Action System for Human Rights, human rights mechanisms, OIC’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC), the Human Rights Office of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI).

The current session includes holding the 23rd session specified to discuss the second periodic report submitted by the Kingdom of Bahrain on April 23 and 24 and the 24th session to discuss the first report submitted by the Arab Republic of Egypt on April 28 and 29. This comes within the framework of following up on the Arab states’ commitments to their obligations as a result of joining the Arab Charter Committee on Human Rights and assessing the extent of states’ commitment to implement the terms of the Charter.

At the opening of the 61st session, Chairman of the Arab Charter Committee on Human Rights Counselor Jaber Al-Marri emp
hasized the importance of assessing the progress made in the field of human rights and expressed hope that the current session would yield positive results that contribute to achieving further progress in the Arab states’ human rights record.

Al-Marri also raised concerns about the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza Strip. He called upon all Arab states to exert pressure on the international community to lift the siege on Gaza, allow the entry of humanitarian aid, and work toward improving the living conditions of the people residing there.

Source: Saudi Press Agency