52 human rights organizations from 11 Arab countries (Jordan, Bahrain, Tunisia, Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Libya) have added their signatures to a letter to Arab heads of state who will be attending the forthcoming Arab League Summit. The letter is the product of an initiative of the Jordan based Amman Center for Human Rights Studies, in co-operation with the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR).
The text of the letter is as follows:
Open letter from human rights organisations and civil society groups to Arab heads of state.
The Summit of the Arab League.
52 human rights organizations from 11 Arab countries (Jordan, Bahrain, Tunisia, Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Libya) have added their signatures to a letter to Arab heads of state who will be attending the forthcoming Arab League Summit. The letter is the product of an initiative of the Jordan based Amman Center for Human Rights Studies, in co-operation with the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR).
The text of the letter is as follows:Open letter from human rights organisations and civil society groups to Arab heads of state.
The Summit of the Arab League.
As-salaam 3alaykum wi rahmatallah wi barakatu,
Embracing democracy and upholding respect for human rights constitute two aspects of the essential political reform that will allow Arab countries to extricate themselves from the current crisis afflicting the Arab region.
Such reform is in harmony with the wishes of the Arab people who are hungry for change, for progress, for development, but who believe – and rightly so – that such reform can only be realised with their participation and with their creative input based on democratic principles.
Democracy is after all the basis of fundamental and inviolable human rights, and it is what Arab people currently lack.
As you know, we look to you to take courageous decisions during the Summit.
Decisions that will put every Arab country on the path to democratic development, will establish rights already firmly entrenched internationally and which will render Arabs real citizens, are proud to belong to their countries.
There can be no doubt that when values of freedom, democracy, equality, non-discrimination, transparency, rejection of corruption and good governance prevail in our countries the Palestinian struggle will be transformed.
The economic and moral support for the Palestinian people’s fearless resistance, efforts to realise their right of return and their right to self-determination and establish an independent state, and the necessary measures to bring about a just settlement of the Arab – Israeli conflict will all become more effective.
It is now clear that the military occupation of Iraq represents a policy that will spread throughout the Arab region if Arab countries do not resist the pressures that threaten to pillage their fortunes and destinies.
We are at a critical juncture – never before has it been so critical to examine a programme of real and wide-ranging reform.
Reform which will give the citizen room for meaningful participation, bring about the peaceful transfer of power and guarantee free expression of opinion and the rule of law – all without the spectres of state security forces and repression and intimidation which are powerless to protect a regime in the face of an external threat.
The events we witnessed in Iraq are a clear warning.
It is the people who must be the targets of our efforts, in order that we can create countries capable of overcoming any difficulties, whether they be domestic or external.
The demands of the Arab people are legitimate and justified and are prerequisites for the security and safety of leaders who express the wishes of their people.
While reform initiatives flung at the Arab region such as the Greater Middle East plan testify to the need for, and importance of, economic and political reform, such reform must be in harmony with our culture and heritage.
It will only be made possible through reform of the internal situation within our countries which must precede any reform imposed on us by others.
In this regard reference should be made to the Alexandria reform proposals which came out of the Issues of Arab reform…vision and implementation Conference.
The proposals provide a clear and comprehensive vision of various reform issues in political, economic, social and cultural fields.
The opening of Arab society to the successes of the information and communications revolutions is both a practical necessity which will place our new generation at the forefront of the contemporary age, and ensures the fundamental right to obtain and exchange facts and information.
However, it must be grounded in the unique characteristics of our cultural heritage.
We must not ignore what has resulted from the opening of Arab society in the sphere of international economic relations.
Without a doubt it constitutes an impetus for the support of development in our countries and the strengthening of expenditure in various social fields within the framework of social, educational and cultural guarantees against poverty and unemployment.
People are the effective, creative tool of development and both its principal target and ultimate hope for creating a society free from steadily increasing repression and spiritual decline.
We hope that you will take up these issues which concern every son of the Arab nation who consider that their country comes first, rather than those who place their interests before those of their country.
The issues that we have raised are at the heart of the demands for democracy which is in turn at the heart of the security of the Arab nation and the best way of defending it.
Democracy is essential for the creation of a bright future for Arab society in the era of the information and technical revolution.
We consider the following as being the most important demands:
- The taking the appropriate constitutional steps to make democracy and its various institutions an inescapable necessity, with the creation of a constitution where one does not yet exist.
- The signing and ratifying of all international human rights instruments.
- The implementation of an Arab human rights treaty whose rights provisions would equal those laid down by international human rights instruments which have been signed and ratified by a large number of Arab countries.
- The passing of legislation concerned with reviving freedom of opinion, assembly, association and of the press without any impediments or hindrances.
- Referendums must not be used as a replacement for free multiparty elections.
- The creation of permanent democratic election laws to prevent the creation of puppet assemblies which do not represent the wishes of the people.
- The annulment of military and exceptional courts and implementation of the rule of law.
- The annulment of the emergency laws in force in some Arab countries – emergency legislation is a principal threat to the fundamental rights and freedoms of Arab citizens.
- The taking of legislative measures necessary to prevent violations of human rights and to bring to account the perpetrators of these violations.
- The protection of children’s rights and prevention of their exploitation and mistreatment.
- The passing of legislation necessary to allow women to allow their full rights, including the ratification of international women’s rights treaties.
- The promulgation of anti-corruption legislation – corruption is the bedfellow of repression, despotism and dictatorships.
- The expending of efforts to eradicate poverty, ignorance, unemployment and discrimination.
- An announcement that any measures which oppose human rights or democracy in any Arab country is unlawful accompanied by a declaration that such an announcement may not be refuted by an assertion that it constitutes interference in Arab countries’ sovereignty.
- The freedom to form civil society associations through the amendment of legislation which restricts the formation of associations, trade and voluntary unions whether of a political, social, cultural or economic character.
The freedom of these associations to act and receive funding must be guaranteed.
We believe that such steps will strengthen the internal unity within every Arab country and render it firm in the face of external pressures.
They will consolidate your position with regard to the citizens of your countries, and deny the opportunity of troubling the internal stability of Arab countries to those who wish to do so.
These steps will dispel the fears of some surrounding the implementation of democracy for two main reasons:
- The path towards democracy is through grassroots efforts.
- Democracy will emerge from the consciousness and maturity of the people as long as this is accompanied by respect for human dignity and intellect.
We wish you every success on the path of progress and democracy at the Summit.
Signed by:
1. The Amman Center for Human Rights Studies (Jordan)
2. The Jordanian Association for Human Rights (Jordan)
3. Amnesty International Regional branch (Jordan)
4. The Association of Arab Women (Jordan)
5. The Association of the Human Center for the Rights of the Woman (Jordan)
6. The International Institute for Women’s Solidarity (Jordan)
7. The Women’s Anti-Illiteracy Association (Jordan)
8. The Association of Human Rights Activists (Jordan)
9. Mizan – The Law Association for Human Rights (Jordan)
10. Haq – The Jordanian Association for Children’s Rights (Jordan)
11. The Bahraini Association for Human Rights (Bahrain)
12. The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (Bahrain)
13. The Bahraini Women’s Petition Committee (Bahrain)
14. Amnesty regional branch Manama (Bahrain)
15. Women’s Future Association (Bahrain)
16. The Bahraini Women’s Association (Bahrain)
17. The Association of the Rural Girl (Bahrain)
18. The International Women’s Association (Tunisia)
19. The Tunisian Confederation for Human Rights (Tunisia)
20. The Association for Human Rights in Syria (Syria)
21. The Iraqi Network for a Culture of Human Rights and Development (Iraq)
22. The Baghdad Center for Human Rights Studies (Iraq)
23. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (Palestine)
24. The Center for Democracy and the Rights of Workers (Palestine)
25. Ramallah Centre for Human Rights Studies (Palestine)
26. The Woman’s Center for Legal and Social Advice (Palestine)
27. The Center for Women’s Affairs (Palestine)
28. The Lebanese Association for Human Rights (Lebanon)
29. The Palestinian Organization for Human Rights (Lebanon)
30. The Lebanese Organization for the Combating of Violence Against Women (Lebanon)
31. The Libyan Confederation for Human Rights (Libya)
32. The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (Egypt)
33. The Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights (Egypt)
34. The Human Rights Center for Assistance of Prisoners (Egypt)
35. Kalima Center for Human Rights (Egypt)
36. The Moroccan Organization for Human Rights (Morocco)
37. The Center for People’s Rights (Morocco)
38. The National Network for Human Rights Education (Morocco)
39. The Association for Women’s Liberty (Morocco)
40. The Association for the Diffusion of Women’s Culture (Morocco)
41. The Moroccan Association for Women’s Rights (Morocco)
42. The Democratic Association for Moroccan Women (Morocco)
43. The Association for Solidarity Without Borders (Morocco)
44. The Association for the Protection of the Moroccan Consumer (Morocco)
45. Confederation of the Local Committee of the Lawyers’ Union in Rabat (Morocco)
46. The Provincial Association of Young Lawyers in Fez (Morocco)
47. The Center for Human Rights Information and Education (Yemen)
48. Assembly of Arab Brothers for Human Rights (Yemen)
49. The Committee for the Support of Human Rights (Yemen)
50. The Women’s Association for Education and Training (Yemen)
51. The Arab Institute for Human Rights (Yemen)
52. The Arab Organization for Human Rights in Britain (London)