Egypt hosts 1st conf. for Human Rights Councils in the Arab states

The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) in cooperation with the Arab League will organize a regional conference on the status of human rights in the Arab states.

The conference will be held on March 6-8 and will be co-chaired by NCHR chief Boutros Ghali and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour.

NCHR Secretary General Qotb said a delegation from the Geneva-based UNHRC have recently visited the council as part of arrangements for holding the conference.

He added that human rights councils in many Arab states will be invited.

The conference is expected to address human rights issues in the region, especially the violations committed in Iraq and the Palestinian territories as well as reform and democracy issues.