Statement: International Human Rights Day

The Amman Center for Human Rights Studies (ACHRS) joins states, international organizations, and human rights defenders around the world in celebrating Human Rights Day. This day is intended to honor the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to celebrate the work being done to realize those human rights.

Despite the progress made globally to progress and promote human rights, many are disillusioned about a human rights-based regime due to growing inequality, global conflicts, and unstable domestic political environments. This is evident in this year’s theme, our everyday essentials, which seeks to reaffirm the value of human rights and to show that human rights are a winning proposition for humanity.

ACHRS would therefore like to take this opportunity to briefly highlight the state of human rights linked to our priorities in the Arab Region.

We would like to begin by publicly reaffirming our solidarity with the people of Palestine and Sudan, whose civilians continue to experience gross human rights violations due to war, illegal occupation, and prima facie genocide. We will continue to advocate for their human rights until such time that their human rights are fully realized.

Right to Life: The death penalty has not been abolished in the Arab Region, and countries in the region continue to use it as a punishment for drug-related offenses and contravening terrorism-related laws.

We call on all states to abolish the death penalty for all crimes. The threat and use of the death penalty has been used by governments to suppress political opposition and government critics under the guise of terrorism laws. The presence of the death penalty also does not deter criminals from committing crimes, as it is the certainty of punishment, and not the severity of the punishment that deters the commission of criminal acts. Imprisonment has been shown to be an effective punishment, while still preserving the individual’s human rights.

Right to Think and Right to Speak: The right to receive and disseminate information is frustrated in the Arab Region. From military raids on campuses, to the arrest and detention of student activists and journalists, governments infringe on this right in order to suppress opposition voices and retain political power.

We call on all states in the Arab Region to adhere to their obligations in the various human rights conventions, including articles 19, 21, and 22 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights.

Right to Participate: At the ACHRS, we believe that democracy and democratic values offer the best prospects of securing equality, security, and human development. This therefore requires the highest possible participation of citizens in elections and in democratic processes, along with individuals within governments refraining from frustrating the democratic process

Numerous countries in the Arab Region held elections this year, and there were encouraging developments, like the realization of parliamentary elections in Syria, and an increase in voter turnout and no reports of electoral violence in Iraq. However, the elections were far from perfect; Syria reported election-related violence in the days leading up to the election, and minorities and women are severely underrepresented in the elected representatives. Meanwhile, the elections in Iraq were characterized by corruption and clientelism. ACHRS calls on states to create and support institutions with the necessary capacity to ensure free and fair elections.

Women’s Rights: Women’s rights in the region remained constrained in numerous ways. From gender-based violence to barriers preventing electoral participation, there are many obstacles that women have to overcome in order to realize their potential as individuals and as a collective within society.

We urge states to adhere to their obligations in the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in order to eliminate discriminatory policies and practices against women in all forms. Additionally, we call on states in the Arab Region to fund programs that empower women and girls.

Social Protection: People with disabilities face various forms of discrimination and barriers that limit their full participation in society. In the Arab Region, people with disabilities are more likely to be unemployed than people without disabilities. The drivers of this are complex, with the education and skill gaps beginning early in life and growing as they get older.

ACHRS calls on states to fund studies that identify the various barriers faced by people with disabilities at all stages of life so as to be better equipped to include them into society. Additionally, we call on states to fund programs that create educational and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. As all states in the Arab Region have ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ACHRS urges states to take measures to ensure that people with disabilities are able to have equal enjoyment of their rights and freedoms.

Youth Rights: This newly-incorporated priority was adopted to promote young people’s right to quality education, decent employment opportunities, youth engagement, and the opportunity to reach decision-making positions in society and government.

The wars in Gaza and Sudan have destroyed educational facilities, thus preventing young people from gaining an education. Additionally, the low quality of education in countries such as Egypt and the subsequent lack of opportunities hinder young people’s ability to realize their full potential in society. The lack of educational opportunities compounds the youth unemployment crisis in the region, where countries such as Libya registered a youth unemployment rate as high as 49.5% in 2024. The shortage of opportunities for young people leads to disillusion, erodes their sense of belonging within society, creates apathy towards public life, reinforces stratification, and leads to social unrest.

ACHRS calls on states to implement programs that create decent employment opportunities for young people. We also call on states to invest in educational programs and infrastructure so as to ensure that the greatest number of people have access to the best possible standards of education. Finally, we call on states to dismantle barriers that prevent young people from reaching decision-making positions in society and within governments.

While we are experiencing a period which makes some people skeptical of a human rights-based regime, it is at these times that we must remember the progress that we have made since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. From the progress made in the areas of women and children’s rights, to the spread of democracy and the rule of law, the human rights-based regime has brought about significant developments in people’s lives. We will continue to work individually as an organization, and together with our various partners, to ensure the realization of human rights.

For more information on the human rights linked to our priorities in the Arab Region, click here to read our monthly Human Rights Monitor.