Doha's human right conference reiterates support to Syrian rights

Arab and international human rights and civil society organizations, which took part in the Doha conference on developing human rights mechanism of the Arab League, reiterated support for the Syrian people and Syrian human rights activists. The groups stressed their strong condemnation of the systematic human rights abuses, war crimes, and crimes against humanity inflicted upon civilians by the Syrian regime for over two years. In a closing statement, the conference blamed the Syrian regime for the ongoing violent dispute, urging all the sides to respect international humanitarian law and human rights. Participant groups also denounced the international community's reluctance to assume its responsibility in putting an end to violence against Syrian civilians, which left up to 90,000 killed, hundreds of thousands of detainees, tens of thousands of victims of enforced disappearances, in addition to five million displaced citizens and two million refugees in neighboring countries. The conference urged in its closing statement the necessity of a serious and effective international intervention to stop the bloodshed and end the suffering of Syrians, stressing its support for any effort as long as it responds to the legitimate rights of the Syrian people in choosing its rulers and holds wrongdoers accountable for their offences. On another front, the conference also recommended to develop Arab League charter, including a clear text about the basic principles of human rights and relationship between ensuring peace and security and respect for human rights and development. Participants called improving Arab League Human Rights charter of 2004 by attaching additional protocols, including some human rights issues such as violence against women, the prevention of torture and the economic, social, cultural and human rights defenders, protection of journalists and media people and refugees, in addition to cases of enforced disappearance, transitional justice and people with disability, particularly during wars and conflicts. Among other recommendations, participants called for the need of better coordination between departments in the Arab League. The conference came as part of the Arab League Council calls for reform to the mechanism and procedures inside the Arab League, particularly in the political, economic, social, and cultural fields.