SALALAH: The regional Forum on the Role of National Human Rights Institutions in Planning and Following Up on the Implementation of National Visions in Areas Related to Human Rights, kicked off, Wednesday, at Sultan Qaboos Complex Youth Culture & Entertainment, in Salalah, Sultanate of Oman.
The event is the first regional forum that discusses the role of human rights institutions in planning and following up on the implementation of national visions in areas related to human rights and is co-organized by Doha-based National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) and Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRIs), alongside Oman Human Rights Commission, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), and the Committee of the Arab Charter on Human Rights.
Addressing the inaugural session of the forum, Chairperson of Qatar NHRC Maryam bint Abdullah Al Attiyah, said a global direction was developed throughout the past three decades on human rights-based planning, culminating in the emergence of 152 national plans for human rights in 79 countries, in addition to a sheer number of sectoral plans concerned with specific rights such as labour or health.
She added that every single person who reviews both the recommendations of the comprehensive periodical review and the regional and international human rights commissions will see that there is no document whatsoever which is devoid of a recommendation related to human rights-based planning with its total and partial levels.
Al Attiyah elucidated that, the global recognition of the right to development as a human right, would have reinforced the human rights-based approach, particularly in the national visions for development, pointing out that the world has gone far beyond the traditional notion of development which is based on pure benevolence and economic dimensions, to the concept of human rights which deems development as an expansion of human's options, freedom and rights, in addition to extricating humans from the scourges of ignorance, disease and poverty.
The Chairperson of Qatar NHRC called for the imperative of highlighting the engagement of most vulnerable individuals and groups in human rights and development plans to remain a national project owned by all, in commensurate with the obligations set out in the human rights charter, particularly the access to human rights.This is in addition to upgrading the joint work among national institutions and in collaboration with International governmental and non-governmental institutions, in the field of human rights-based planning, including the development of regional plans aimed at enhancing the role of national institutions in achieving national visions, whether these plans are sectoral or comprehensive.
She underlined the importance of the role undertaken by the national institutions in helping countries accomplish human rights-based planning in multiple fields, foremost of which are assisting countries to uphold their obligations in the area of human rights, including the right to development, helping countries incorporate the human rights approach into digital technology and AI in building national plans and addressing new and emerging challenges.
She pointed out that the role should help formulate understanding and proactive response that would address gaps in planning through preparation, implementation, and monitoring, in addition to combining initiatives from a variety of the United Nations bodies and international organizations concerned with human rights and sustainable development goals in national, regional, and global plans.
Chairman of Omani Human Rights Commission Dr Rashid bin Hamad Al Balushi meanwhile emphasized the importance of enhancing human rights in various dimensions to achieve national visions aimed at creating a better future through comprehensive and integrated strategies and effective implementation mechanisms.
He highlighted the pivotal role of national human rights institutions in providing recommendations and proposals to governments, parliaments, and relevant entities to ensure the realization of fundamental human rights principles. Al Balushi noted that forums like this one are crucial for exchanging experiences, showcasing best practices, and highlighting challenges to national visions to develop plans and recommendations that aid decision-makers in effectively implementing human rights policies and programs.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the National Council for Human Rights of the Arab Republic of Egypt and President of the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI) Dr. Moushira Khattab underscored the importance of planning in the field of human rights and the role of relevant institutions in collaboration with states and civil society organizations to enforce human rights and make them a lived reality without discrimination. She explained that the forum aims to establish guidelines for Arab countries to fulfil their human rights commitments in alignment with international standards, societal norms, and national laws.
During the opening session, Governor of Dhofar Marwan bin Turki Al Said honored Al Attiyah for her distinguished leadership and pivotal role in enhancing regional and international cooperation among human rights institutions. This recognition reflects the Omani Human Rights Commission's commitment to fostering cooperation and coordination with national and international human rights institutions and acknowledging the exceptional efforts of influential figures in this field.
The forum featured four discussion sessions, presenting various papers with contributions from specialists, experts, and officials in human rights. The first session addressed the progress made on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and how to integrate its concepts into national visions.
The second session focused on applying a human rights-based approach in planning and implementing national visions, emphasizing equality and non-discrimination. The third session discussed human rights in Oman Vision 2040, including the integration of sustainable development goals into national visions and ensuring transparency and follow-up in their implementation. The final session examined indicators for monitoring and tracking progress in human rights when implementing national visions.
