The announcement of a Partnership Agreement between the Arab Institute for Human Rights and the International Federation for Human Rights

December 20th, 2012.

Tunis,

On Thursday morning, December 20th, 2012 in Tunis; a Partnership Agreement between the Arab Institute for Human Rights and the International Federation for Human Rights was announced in parallel with the Regional Seminar activities on «protecting and promoting Human Rights after the Arab revolutions: Challenges and Prospects». The above two parties seek to raise the level of the expertise exchange and experiences between them, progress on Human Rights Culture and upgrade them to the desired level.

On the occasion of the announcement of a Partnership Agreement, Mrs. Souhir Belhassen expressed, in her speech, her satisfaction with this Agreement; since it embodies a common vision for the need of Human Rights Organizations and all civil society actors to network, integrate forces and melt energies, for the sake of Human Rights advancement and the reduction of violations.

Similarly, Mr. Abdel Basset Ben Hassan, the Chairman of the Arab Institute for Human Rights, revealed the same feeling; referring to the deep–rooted relationship between the Arab Institute and the International Federation, which was embodied by Organizing common typical activities, cooperating at the level of the exchange of ideas, and views on the development of Human Rights issues in the Arab region.

The President of the Institute highlights the need today to establish partnerships and expand alliances between Organizations working in the field of Human Rights and Civil Society in general, since the challenges on Human Rights movement in the Arab region are neither simple nor easy.

According to Mr. Abdel Basset Ben Hassan, this agreement looks forward to expanding the activities at the Arab region; in order to pay attention to ignored countries, deepen the openness to internal regions, marginalized and fragile groups and those with special needs. He adds that such agreement is an introduction and a message to all Civil Society Organizations; in order to work collectively far from any dispute on resources, positions and insignificant leadership, and also away from arbitrary separation between the dissemination of Human Rights Culture and its defense on the ground by struggling against violations and perpetrators.

In the following days, the two parties will be expected to sign the Convention.