PCHR’s Director, Raji
Sourani, was reelected to the Executive Board of the Arab Organization (AOHR)
for Human Rights during the 7th periodic meeting of the AOHR
General Assembly meeting on 18-19 April. The meeting was held parallel to
the AOHR 25th anniversary celebrations, which also included
commemorating the Organization’s pioneers and the pioneers of the human
rights movement in the Arab World.
The AOHR General Assembly
convened its 7th meeting under the motto of “Future Program in a
Changing Context,” and fielded reports from its regional members. The General
Assembly discussed various topic that included security and judicial persecution
of human rights defenders, restrictions on the freedom of association for human
rights groups, foreign occupation of Arab land and subsequent human rights
violations, Ethiopian military presence in Somalia and the deteriorating
humanitarian situation there, human rights violations in Sudan, situation in
Lebanon, and torture and cruel treatment in detention centers in most Arab
countries.
The General Assembly adopted a
new strategy for the upcoming period based on promoting economic, social, and
cultural rights alongside the promotion of civil and political rights.
It is noted that the General
Assembly election of trustees resulted in electing 6 new trustees out of 20. Dr.
Amin Mikki Medani was reelected as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees; and
Dr. Siham El-Fareih was elected Deputy Chair of the same board. Mr. Mohsin Awad
was elected as AOHR Secretary-General; and Ambassador Ibrahim Allam was elected
as the Organization’s Executive Director.
