Regional Conference on the

" Role of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in the Arab Region"

13-14 January 2016

Doha- Qatar

DRAFT PROGRAMME

TIME / DESCRIPTION
Day One
13 January 2015
8:00-9:00 / Registration of participants
OPNENING SESSION
9:00-10:00 / Opening speech
  • Introductory film on the role of OHCHR
  • His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Samikh al Marri, Head of National Human Rights Committee of Qatar
  • His Excellency Mr. Zeid bin Ra’ad, the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human Rights
  • His Excellency Dr. Nabil al Arabi, General Secretary of the League of Arab Nations
  • His Excellency Head of Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions
  • His excellency Head of Arab Parliament

10:00-10:30 / Break
SESSIONS
10:30-13:30
(Al Waseel rooms) / FIRST SESSION
Participative Dialogue on the role and activities of OHCHR
Moderator:
Rapporteur:
  • Working paper on the role of OHCHR in promoting and protecting human rights in the world
  • Working paper on the role of OHCHR in the Arab world particularly in the field
  • Working paper on the role of the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region
  • Working paper on developing ways to present and share human rights information through modern technological means

13:30-15:00 / Lunch
WORKSHOP
15:00-18:00 / FIRST WORKSHOP
OHCHR response to the human rights situation in the Arab region, particularly through the United Nations protection mechanism (Al Waseel Room 1)
Moderator:
Rapporteur:
Working papers will discuss the role of OHCHR through:
  • Mapping of ratification status of core human rights treaties of the Arab States and their cooperation with treaty bodies
  • Cooperation with special procedures of the Human Right Council
  • Lessons learned from Universal Periodic Review and States follow up on recommendations

SECOND WORKSHOP
Some issues facing human rights in the Arab region ( Al Waseel Room 2)
Moderator:
Rapporteur:
Working papers will discuss the main issues concerning:
  • Freedom of opinion and expression , and freedom of association and peaceful assembly
  • Promotion and protection of human rights in occupation and armed conflict contexts

THIRD WORKSHOP
Participants expectations of the role of OHCHR in the Arab region ( Al Mukhtasar room 1)
Moderator:
Rapporteur:
  • Expectations of national human rights institutions
  • Expectations of governmental human rights offices
  • Expectations of civil societies

18:00 / Conclusion of first day/ meeting of drafting committee
20:00 / Dinner in the honour of invitees
Day Two
14 January 2015
9:00-11:00 / SECOND SESSION
Cooperation of Arab States with regional and international human rights mechanisms: Presentation of best practices on partnership between OHCHR and regional organizations in the world
Moderator:
Rapporteur:
  • Human rights strategy in the Arab region ( joint programme between OHCHR and League of Arab Nations) Working paper presented by the League of Arab Nations
  • Working paper by the European Union
  • Working paper by African Union
  • Working paper by the Organization of the American States

11:00-12:30 / THIRD SESSION
Presentation of the Conference’s conclusions
Moderator:
Rapporteur:
12:30-13:00 / Break
13:00-14:00 / FINAL SESSION
Moderator:
Rapporteur:
  • Final statement and recommendations

14:00-14:30 / Press conference
14:30-15:30 / Lunch