The UAE is taking part in the 41st session of the Permanent Arab Commission on Human Rights, which began today at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States here.

The UAE is represented by Mubarak Mohamed Mubarak, Head of the Human Rights Section at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The five-day meeting will be presided over by Dr. Amjad Shamout, Chairman of the Permanent Arab Commission on Human Rights, with the participation of representatives of human rights departments in the Arab countries.

The meeting will address a range of issues, including the Israeli violations of human rights in the Arab-occupied territories, Arab detainees and prisoners in Israeli prisons, cadavers of Palestinian martyrs, Arab citizens detained by Israeli authorities, in addition to the Arab Charter on Human Rights. Also discussed at the meeting were the draft on Arab strategy for human rights, sanctions and unilateral coercive measures and their effects on the enjoyment of human rights in Sudan, the Arab draft agreement on torture, as well as the right to development.

Ambassador Badr Eldin Alali, Assistant Secretary-General for Social Affairs at the Arab League, stressed that the League was keen to promote human rights and making efforts to set up an Arab strategy for human rights and put it into practice at the national and regional levels.

In his opening speech, he praised the fight of the Palestinian people for freedom, independence and regaining their legitimate rights. He emphasised the need to put an end to Israeli violations against the Palestinian people.

The Arab League has always called for an end to economic sanctions on the Republic of Sudan, being a legitimate demand and an important step towards supporting the Sudanese brothers in achieving the economic recovery, he remarked.

Dr. Shamout highlighted the clear directives of Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, to improve human rights and support this commission, noting that the commission has undertaken important steps, and has been preparing legislations related to human rights in the Arab region. He also called for more work and co-operation for developing the Arab human rights system.