Articles

29 June 2016
Your Excellency,
We, the undersigned 244 civil society organizations, spanning across all regions of the world, call on your delegation to stand in solidarity with civil society by supporting the draft resolution on the protection of civil society space, to be considered for adoption at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council (on 30 June or 1 July). We urge you to cosponsor the draft resolution, reject all amendments, and vote in favour of the resolution if a vote is called.

Human rights stand, alongside development and peace and security, as one of three pillars of the UN's work. Human rights defenders, being essential actors in the promotion and protection of human rights and the prevention of violations, should be at the core of this work. Despite this, in all regions of the world, human rights defenders face unacceptable restrictions and risks – from defamation to criminalisation, and from arbitrary detention to torture.

As the world celebrates Press Freedom Day, many journalists and bloggers in the Arab world are paying a heavy price for their commitment to provide citizens in their countries and around the World with independent and thorough information.

Because reporting impartially on their acts and policies is seen by States in the region as a threat to their stability or sometimes simply as an insult to those in power, journalists and bloggers are targeted. Judicial harassment, arbitrary and secret detentions, torture, executions ...

On 13 and 14 January 2016, Alkarama attended the Regional Conference on "the Role of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights [OHCHR] in Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in the Arab Region" in Doha, which welcomed 230 participants from governments, regional and civil society organisations and the OHCHR.

On the occasion of Human Rights Day, the Alkarama Foundation presented its 7th annual award for Human Rights Defenders in the Arab World on 8 December 2015 to Omani human rights advocate and former parliamentarian, Talib Al Mamari, in recognition of his important work defending human rights in his country, in particular since the crackdown on civil society that followed the 2011 protests.

A committed member of the Omani Parliament and environmental activist, Talib Al Mamari will receive Alkarama's 2015 Award for Human Rights Defenders in the Arab World, in recognition for his significant work defending human rights in the country, particularly since the

On 17 September 2015, Secretary General (UNSG) Ban Ki-Moon presented his last report to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) on cases of reprisals against persons who have cooperated with the UN human rights mechanisms, emphasising that "any act of intimidation or reprisal against individuals o

Alkarama is pleased to announce that Rachid Mesli has just been notified of the Turin Court of Appeal's decision to lift the restrictive measure of house arrest held against him since 22 August 2015.