The Arab world has endured another year marked by bloody conflicts and severe human rights violations. Among the most prominent are the ongoing war crimes and genocide committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The conflict has also expanded into Lebanon, resulting in a growing toll of civilian casualties and worsening humanitarian conditions. Meanwhile, there is a stark absence of international will to hold perpetrators accountable or to address violations of international humanitarian law.
December 10 marks an international observance dedicated to Human Rights Day, serving as a tribute to one of the most foundational global legal instruments: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This seminal document codifies the inherent and inalienable rights to which every individual is entitled, irrespective of race, colour, religion, gender, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or any other status.
Palestine: Ongoing Genocide
This commemoration coincides with the ongoing aggression by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip. This persists despite widespread global protests and rulings by the International Court of Justice, which ordered provisional measures in South Africa's case against Israel concerning the enforcement of the Genocide Convention. Additionally, the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
Since 7 October 2023, Israel has perpetrated acts amounting to genocide in Gaza, resulting in approximately 150,000 Palestinians being killed or injured, the majority of whom are children and women. More than 11,000 individuals remain missing amidst widespread devastation. This has been accompanied by famine, claiming the lives of dozens of children and elderly people, culminating in one of the most severe humanitarian crises witnessed globally.
Syria: A New Era
In Syria, a popular uprising over recent days has led to the downfall of Bashar al-Assad’s tyrannical regime after decades of oppression and violations. Harrowing scenes of the regime's practices against the Syrian people have surfaced, as thousands of detainees and forcibly disappeared individuals have been released from prisons, though a large number remain missing.
While the fall of the regime has ended a dark era characterized by severe repression, the country continues to grapple with the aftermath of long years of devastation. The current phase poses significant human rights challenges, including:
- Transitional justice, which requires holding those responsible for crimes and violations accountable, ensuring no impunity, and guaranteeing victims' right to justice.
- Addressing the plight of detainees and forcibly disappeared individuals.
- Facilitating the safe return of displaced persons and refugees by providing appropriate and secure conditions for millions of Syrians to go back to their homes, ensuring their right to housing and dignity.
- Rebuilding state institutions to uphold human rights, transparency, and justice.
Across the Arab World
Grave human rights violations persist, including political repression, arbitrary arrests, and unfair trials, all within an environment of widespread impunity. The fall of the Syrian regime serves as a powerful lesson for other authoritarian regimes in the Arab region to heed the demands of their people, ensure civil and political rights, and abandon policies of oppression, intimidation, and the confiscation of freedoms—particularly the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
A Call for Action
On this occasion, Alkarama reiterates its appeal to the international community to take decisive action to end the repression in Palestine and to ensure accountability for the crimes committed. We call on Arab governments to uphold international human rights standards, safeguard freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and release prisoners of conscience, particularly in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Tunisia, Sudan, and Algeria.
Alkarama further highlight the pivotal role of human rights organisations, urging them to intensify their efforts in monitoring and documenting violations in order to bring perpetrators to justice.
On this day, Alkarama reaffirm its unwavering commitment to the defense of human rights across the Arab world, underscoring that human dignity is not a choice but an intrinsic right that must be upheld and safeguarded.