The Arab-European Human Rights Dialogue interconnects people by strengthening national human rights institutions in 14 countries. The cooperation has resulted in concrete human rights improvements in several countries.

You can also read the first bi-annual newsletter from the Arab-European Human Rights Dialogue (AEHRD)

Many people would find that a world of difference exists between Arab and European countries. But when it comes to human rights, the countries do in fact often face some of the same challenges. That is why the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) and 13 other national human rights institutions in Europe and the Arab World have set up the Arab-European Human Rights Dialogue.

Migration, counterterrorism and women’s rights are some of the subjects heading the agenda for the cooperation between European and Arab countries. The cooperation has brought about real changes in the past two years. As an example, guest workers in Jordan now have better conditions. This was achieved after the National Centre for Human Rights in Jordan had been inspired to tackle this particular area in the wake of one of the dialogue meetings.

In Jordan, women’s rights have also attracted greater focus as a unit has been set up under the National Centre for Human Rights in Jordan. One of its tasks is to raise awareness of women’s rights and how women’s rights are related to human rights.

Morocco, too, is benefiting from participation in the dialogue network. Here, the Moroccan Advisory Council on Human Rights is currently working purposefully to amend the Penal Code and has gained much support and knowledge from the network in that respect.

Only a beginning

Mu’ayyad Mehyar, DIHR Programme Manager of the Arab-European Human Rights Dialogue, is pleased that the dialogue network seems to be so effective in the real world.

“We now see that it really makes a difference. It is not just a matter of talking, but of utilising each other’s specific experience and competencies. It is incredibly important to strengthen the national human rights institutions in both the Arab World and in Europe, and the best way to do so is through cooperation,” he says.

The initial dialogue began already in 2006, and the cooperation has now developed so much that visible results are emerging. But according to Mr Mehyar, this is only the beginning: the network has grown strong, and the communications channels between the countries are in place now. Therefore, bilateral partnership projects are likely to trickle forth soon.

The national human rights institutions in the individual countries will begin finding specific areas in which they can exploit each other’s expertise. Mr Mehyar also envisages good prospects for DIHR to become a partner to this form of cooperation.

“As an example, there might be obvious opportunities in Tunisia, where lots of new things are happening right now. There will be a great need for a good dialogue with the new government and for supporting civil society in every way imaginable. And these are some of the areas in which DIHR really has great expertise and can contribute to change,” he says.