Bahrain - Establishment of an Organization for Monitoring Human Rights (Friday, May 14, 2010)
Bahrain is in the process of establishing an organization for monitoring human rights that will formulate a national human rights strategy, provide advice on new laws and receive complaints. In April 2010 the King has appointed the 20 members who will steer the organization. The appointees held their first meeting on May 13, 2010 to discuss organizational procedures and functions. However, 7 independent Bahraini human rights organizations expressed doubts as to the independence of the new organization because more than half of its members are government employees, current or ex-members of the Bahraini Consultative (Shoura) Council. All members of the Shoura Council are appointed by the King.
Source: Reuters, Al-Watan – Qatar, 14 May 2010

Arab Countries - The Arab League Calls for Respect of Human Rights (Friday, March 12, 2010)
The Arab League issued a statement on the second anniversary of the Arab Charter for Human Rights going into effect. In its statement, the Arab League called on governments, organizations, trade unions and associations to respect and protect human rights in the Arab region. The League said that achieving this goal requires strengthening dialogue among these institutions, and developing and amending existing laws. The League stressed that the protection of freedoms will be attained only under democratic regimes, sovereignty of the law and judicial independence. On the other hand, the Arab plan for enhancing human rights culture will be submitted to the Arab Summit that will be held in Libya at the end of March 2010.
Source: Qatar News Agency, Al-Watan Daily - Qatar.

Syria - Syrian Human Rights Organizations Ask the Government to Lift the State of Emergency (Tuesday, March 09, 2010)
Several Syrian human rights organizations asked the Syrian government to lift the state of emergency imposed since March 8, 1963. They called for: closing the file of political detention and release of all political prisoners; revising legislation that curb the activities of human rights organizations publicly and freely, accepting the supremacy of international charters and conventions over national laws, passing a political parties law enables citizens to participate in political life, eliminating discrimination against Syrian Kurds and allowing them to use their language.
The organizations that signed the statement are: The Syrian Association for Defending Human Rights, the Committees for Protecting Democratic Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria, the Syrian Human Rights Observatory, the Kurdish Committee for Human Rights in Syria, Damascus Center for Theoretical Studies and Civil Rights, and the Arab Organization for Criminal Reform in Syria.
Source: AFP, Al-Sharq - Qatar.

Syria - Syrian Human Rights Organizations Demand the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Tuesday, March 09, 2010)
On the occasion of the International Woman's Day, several Syrian human rights organizations demanded the amendment of all Syrian laws and legislation to ensure gender equality in personal status cases. They also called for eliminating any discrimination against women in Syria's penal code.
Source: AFP, Al Sharq - Qatar.