Regional Arab human rights conference adopts Rabat-declaration

The Regional Arab Human Rights conference held last week in Morocco adopted a declaration calling for the integration of human rights principles in all Arab educational systems.

The document dubbed "Rabat-Declaration" also called for the struggle against illiteracy in the Arab states and underlined the key role of the media in the promotion of human rights culture.

The declaration urged Arab states to elaborate a common Arab human rights strategy and underlined the major role that the respect of human rights can play in boosting socio-economic development and consolidating the rule of the law.

The document called for the consolidation of the democratic process in the Arab states and for fostering Arab citizens' awareness about their basic rights and responsibilities.

The declaration also asked the Arab states to pool efforts in the struggle against illiteracy which remains a major obstacle to the development of human rights culture.

According to the UNESCO and Arab League figures, about 65 Million Arab citizens or 43.4 % of the Arab population (estimated in 1997 at 264 Million ) are illiterate.

King Hassan II had addressed to the conference a message calling for the elaboration of an Arab human rights declaration, underlining the Arab world's attachment to human rights principles.

The conference, which was held in Morocco Feb.17-20 in collaboration with the UNESCO, UNDP and the Arab League, heard several papers dealing with Arab states' experiences in matters of human rights culture and education.