The annual regional training course on international mechanisms concludes its work

The #GenevaInstituteforHumanRights and the German Foundation Friedrich Ebert - Jordan and Iraq Office concluded the work of the annual regional training course entitled "International mechanisms for the protection of human rights" through the Zoom programme.

15 participants from 8 Arab countries participated in the course: Libya, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain, Yemen and Lebanon. The course lasted five days, 21-25 August 2022. A team of trainers conducted the training among them: Khulood Al-Khatib, Kamal al-Mashraqi and Nazar Abdulgadir from the Geneva Institute for Human Rights, in addition to Professor Bertrand Ramcharan, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Nations, and Dr. Saddam Abu Azam, Chief Executive Officer of Lawyers without Borders.

The session covered several themes, including: global human rights trends, human rights concepts and terminology, and United Nations Charter-based mechanisms: Human Rights Council, universal periodic review mechanism, special procedures system, core international human rights treaties, treaty mechanisms, treaty committees for the protection of human rights, national mechanisms for the protection of human rights, evolution of women's rights in international instruments, information on human rights protection mechanisms on the Internet.

In his closing statement, Nazar Abdelgadir, Executive Director of the Geneva Institute for Human Rights, explained that the completion of this regional session is a source of great pride for the Institute because it is linked to the implementation of the Institute's mission and strategy in the field of human rights defence, citizenship and good human values. Promoting human rights for change and working towards societies free of violations, ensuring the enjoyment and exercice of its full rights, as well as spreading awareness of a human rights, fundamental freedoms culture and promoting democratic participation.

Marin Abbas, Regional Representative of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, expressed his pleasure at convening this regional human rights course to enable young people to interact with the international human rights protection system. His Excellency noted the continued cooperation with the Geneva Institute for Human Rights in providing the Middle East and North Africa with human rights defenders. In conclusion, he thanked all the participants, the staff of the Geneva Institute for Human Rights and all the staff of the Office of Jordan and Iraq. Batul Zidane, program coordinator of the Friedrich Ebert Jordan and Iraq Office also stated that the regional course is part of a series of programmes organized by the Foundation in cooperation with the Geneva Institute for Human Rights, which have always been an important starting point for change in the progress of many of its participants in dealing with and interacting with human rights issues on the ground. She explained that there are experiences that have proven that young people are able to engage in the system of protection and seek to build a future that young people wish and are not required to live based on recognition of human dignity and respect for human rights.

In the context of the participants' assessment of the work of the regional session, Adi Noufel of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan said: According to my previous knowledge and skills and experience on human rights and my professional role in training Jordanian youth in Jordanian universities on basic human rights concepts and topics, my experience of participating in this course has expanded my horizons spectacularly as I have corrected a large package of my previous information and knowledge about this area, Through the course, I was able to see this broader and bigger area of human rights. The course was qualitative and full of expertise and experience in the field of human rights advocacy by the experts of the Geneva Institute for Human Rights.

Farah Abubakar from Libya said that the training staff of the Geneva Institute for Human Rights did the least of what was said to be great work and that she has now learned clearly what protection mechanisms she has to deal with with the need of spreading it to all people in an influential framework so that we can all contribute to the preservation of our rights as human beings. She also adds that throughout years of civil work filled with training, workshops and lectures in various countries of the world and with various institutions and associations, none of which can compare to what I learned during my five days with the Geneva Institute of Human Rights with their smooth and generous explanation of all the questions.

Amani Al-Haddad from Bahrain, added that the training staff of the Geneva Institute for Human Rights has put in great effort to consolidate human rights principles and has worked tirelessly to develop participants' abilities and skills by communicating information and data on international mechanisms for the protection of human rights, in a clear, simple and distinctive manner, and also in an enriching and interactive manner that left a good impression on everyone.