GENEVA: On 10 December 2010, Alkarama presented its 2010 Award to Haithem Al-Maleh, the renowned 80 year-old Syrian human rights lawyer, who was unfortunately unable to accept the prize as he is currently detained inside Adra prison in Damascus, Syria.

Nonetheless, the ceremony took place on Friday evening at the Centre International de Conferences de Geneve (www.cicg.ch), in Geneva, Switzerland where Haithem Al-Maleh's son, Iyas Al-Maleh, received the award on his behalf.

Between 31 October and 1 November 2010 Rachid Tayane, Ahmed Daftare and Said Azzame were disappeared by plain-clothed intelligence officers in Mohammedia. Their families do not know where they are being detained, nor the charges held against them.

Alkarama sent urgent appeals to the Working group on enforced or involuntary disappearances (WGEID) on 14 December 2010 for Mr Tayane, and on 16 December for Mr Daftare and Mr Azzame in the hopes of receiving information regarding their whereabouts. Requests have also been made for their release and/or appearance before a judge.

In March 1995, five Cameroonian nationals were arrested by Political Security forces and taken to its detention center in Sanaa, where they were arbitrarily detained for 15 years. One of them died in detention in early 2010, whilst the others were freed on 29 November 2010.

On 1 April 2010, Alkarama sent urgent appeals to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) and the Special Rapporteur on torture. Alkarama also informed the Committee against Torture (CAT) about the Cameroonians' situation in the context of Yemen's periodic review in November 2009.

On 10 December 2010, Alkarama sent his case to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders requesting his intervention with the Saudi authorities to ensure that Dr.

On 8 december 2010, Alkarama informed the Special Rapporteur on the summary executions, requesting his intervention on on behalf of Mr El-Ati. The aim is to instigate an independent investigation into the the circumstances surrounding M. Al-Ati's death, as well as identifying those responsible.

Abderrahim El-Ati, 23, lived and worked as a carpenter in Azemmour, 70 km east of Casablanca.

On 9 December 2010, Alkarama sent Mr Abdelhalem‘s case to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, requesting its intervention with the Egyptian authorities to immediately release Mr Abdelhalem and to take the appropriate measures against those who deprived him of his liberty.

Human rights organisation Alkarama hosted a one-day symposium in London focusing on human rights and arbitrary detention in Saudi Arabia.

Alkarama is pleased to announce that the NGO response to the Dublin Statement on the Process of Strengthening the UN human rights treaty body system has been adopted by a group of 20 international non-governmental human rights organisations, including Alkarama.

Background to the statement