HE the Vice-President and Secretary-General of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri stressed the importance of strengthening the capacities of national human rights institutions (NHRIs ) to dialogue and communicate with governments, international institutions and co-operation agencies.
This, he said, can develop more effective and comprehensive solutions to the emergencies that the world is witnessing today.
This came in a speech delivered by HE al-Marri within the annual meetings of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, which were held remotely. On its first day, it discussed the implementation of the terms of reference and functions of national human rights institutions in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In his speech, HE al-Marri said that the importance must be given to national institutions in order for them to become essential actors in the formulation of public policies, and to be major actors when formulating national and regional recovery plans (from the coronavirus pandemic), and placing human rights at the centre of the agenda. He added that the time has come to prove that the Vienna Declaration was not wrong in its recognition of NHRIs as essential actors for the protection and guarantee of human rights, and that the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions has enormous potential for this.
HE al-Marri called for the need to unite the various leaderships, actors and sectors, and said that national human rights institutions, have the ability to reduce tensions and fill the gaps, adding, that the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic has had its effects on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, especially for those living in poverty.
He explained that the decrease in dynamism in the local and regional economies constitutes a major challenge affecting several areas, especially the field of human rights. Due to the exacerbation of economic crises and social inequalities, he stressed the importance of NHRIs to ensure that the revitalisation of the economy has a sustainable approach as well as ensuring that the envisaged revitalisation does not affect justice in terms of social inequality.
HE al-Marri also called on national human rights institutions to adhere to the Merida Declaration related to the role of these institutions in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through the exchange of knowledge and experience and forging alliances with regional networks and national human rights institutions, such as the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. He pointed out that the Global Alliance provides national institutions with the unique opportunity to meet together to exchange experiences and identify good practices.
HE al-Marri called for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development not to be neglected despite the coronavirus crisis, as an integral part of the essence of accountability for the sustainable development goals, pointing out that the pandemic will lead to doubling efforts to complete the agenda in a timely manner. At the same time, he affirmed the readiness of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions to support its members throughout the pandemic period and beyond. A statement will be adopted by the NHRIs at the end of the meeting as a reference and guide for the individual and collective actions of NHRIs on climate change.
HE Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri
