During a seminar for Maat and the International Alliance at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva

Akil: African human rights mechanisms need to be developed

Andreas: The international coalition will implement an action agenda for cooperation with regional mechanisms

Abu Dharr Al-Mana: Welcomes the cooperation between the Economic and Social Council and the International Alliance for Peace and Development

Geneva - 29 June 2018

The Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights held today, June 29, 2018, in cooperation with the International Alliance for Peace and Development, at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva on the sidelines of the meetings of the 38th session of the Human Rights Council entitled Strengthening African mechanisms for the protection of human rights, amid wide participation of African and UN experts.

The symposium was spoken by Ayman Aqil, Coordinator of the International Alliance for Peace and Development and the President of Maat Foundation, Mr. Andreas Bseis, a member and advisor to the International Alliance and Director of the Cultural Center “An Ectepio” in Lithuania, Dr. Abu Dhar al-Manna, Chairman of the Political Affairs Committee of the Economic and Social Council of the African Union, and Mrs. Hana al-Najjar, a member. International Alliance and President of the Two Diffin Foundation for Heritage, Cooperation and Development in Morocco.

 Ayman Akil said that June is the month of human rights par excellence in the continent due to the approval of the African Charter and a number of complementary agreements during it, which is what called the Maat Foundation and the International Alliance to ensure this event is held that discusses the development of African mechanisms for the protection of human rights, and stressed the interest of the Foundation Maat on African human rights and development issues through her chairmanship of the Group of Major African Organizations of the United Nations High-Level Policy Forum on Sustainable Development, and her contribution to supporting the sustainable development agenda in Africa 2063.

Aqeel referred to the challenges that the world is witnessing in general, and the African continent in particular, and said that they require all of us to show a critical vision of the current human rights system in Africa, to look impartially at obstacles and problems and search for effective solutions to them, and to assist the various mechanisms of the African Union in developing the human rights system.

Aqeel presented the recommendations of the working paper prepared by the Foundation, the most important of which was the need to amend some articles of the African Charter with regard to some issues related to personal rights, such as compulsory work, the protection of the individual's right to privacy, and the importance of the work of the Committee on Human and Peoples' Rights to be open, and work to provide material support for the work. The committee by providing an independent budget for it.

As for Mr. Andreas Bseis, a member and advisor of the International Alliance and Director of the Cultural Center “An Laktepio” in Lithuania, he emphasized in his speech the openness of the International Alliance for Peace and Development to all regional organizations, with the African Union at its core, noting that the Alliance’s interest in Africa comes in the context of its support for development plans and visions The coalition is preparing an ambitious work agenda at the international level during the next phase that will target communication with governments, active civil forces and legislative bodies in Europe, Africa and the Arab region, in order to enhance the trend, noting that the Alliance is preparing an ambitious work agenda at the international level during the next phase, as a positive element in preventing and resolving conflicts and establishing a culture of peace, dialogue and cooperation. Towards improving peacemaking and sustainable development policies.

 Dr. Abu Dharr Al-Mana, Chairman of the Political Affairs Committee of the Economic and Social Council of the African Union, spoke about the role of the Economic and Social Council as the overarching framework for African civil society organizations, and welcomed the existing cooperation opportunities that are being discussed between the Council on one side and the International Alliance for Peace and Development on the other hand, and announced His support for all efforts aimed at developing the mechanisms of the African Union for human rights and strengthening its role in serving the rights of the people of Africa, and helping its governments to adopt approaches that are responsive to human rights and the goals of sustainable development.

 

It is worth noting that the Maat Foundation and the International Alliance for Peace and Development participate in the work of the 38th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva by presenting a number of interventions in official sessions, holding parallel events and holding in-depth interviews with a large number of international experts and delegations of member states of the Council.