The Amman Center for Human Rights Studies– in conjunction with the Arab Society for Academic Freedoms– delivered two oral statements during the Human Rights Council’s General Debate on Item 3
By Victoria Rebok
Today, the Amman Center for Human Rights Studies (ACHRS)– in conjunction with the Arab Society for Academic Freedoms (ASAF)– delivered two oral statements during the Human Rights Council’s General Debate on Item 3. The interventions were made by Victoria Rebok, Co-Coordinator of the International Relations Unit.
One statement concerned the impact of shrinking civic space on political participation in the Arab world, particularly in the aftermath of the US-Israeli attacks against Iran. ACHRS emphasised that democracy and national security are not competing priorities, but rather complementing issues. It emphasised that meaningful participation is not a privilege to be granted when circumstances permit, but a fundamental human right and an essential component of peace.
On this broader theme of shrinking civic space, ACHRS and ASAF delivered a statement on the concerning state of academic freedom in the Arab world. The statement emphasised the need to protect, not only universities’ institutional autonomy and academic unions, but also their physical structures. Having just commemorated the International Day to Protect Education from Attack, ACHRS and ASAF highlighted the systemic targeting of higher education institutions in wars across the region, and urged the Council to address this issue.
