Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri with leaders of the Steering Committee of the National Human Rights Commission of Sudan.
Khartoum: Vice-President and Secretary-General of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) H E Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri has affirmed the GANHRI’s commitment to support the Republic of Sudan to establish a National Human Rights Commission based on independence, pluralism and transparency in accordance with the Paris Principles.
This came during his visit to Sudan where he held extensive meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Dr. Maryam Al Sadiq Al Mahdi and Minister of Justice H E Nasreddin Abdel Bari, in addition to meetings with the leaders of the Steering Committee of the National Human Rights Commission in the Republic of Sudan.
Al Marri praised the great role that the establishment of the Human Rights Commission might play in the process of promoting and protecting human rights and redressing victims, noting the importance of supporting Sudan, especially in the transitional phase in the areas of human rights. He noted at the same time that the visit was the first of its kind and was part of the support of the partnership between the Sudanese government and the GANHRI to advance the protection of human rights.
During his meetings, Dr. Al Marri presented an overview of the GANHRI and its tasks, saying the visit — after the events in Sudan — aimed at discussing the importance of establishing human rights bodies and mechanisms, at the top of which is the Human Rights Commission, and reviewing with officials the best practices in drafting a law for the Commission.
He called for expanding consultations on developing the draft law to serve the promotion and protection of human rights. He also expressed the GANHRI’s support for all efforts of the government and civil society organizations in this regard, adding that the selection of Sudan in the Human Rights Council is considered an international testimony to the sincere will of the government to implement its obligations.
Al Marri praised the positive dialogue and the great interest of the Sudanese leadership in supporting the progress of the human rights, pointing to a great response from all actors in supporting the establishment of the Human Rights Commission and the protection bodies and mechanisms.
He also welcomed the decision to establish the Steering Committee of the Human Rights Commission which coincided with his visit to Sudan and considered it an important step to fill the legal void during this stage, stressing the need to expand consultations and dialogues to adopt the law of the Human Rights Commission in Sudan in accordance with the Paris Principles.
He stressed the necessity of the rule of law, transitional justice, and the participation of victims in the process of developing the human rights system. The Vice President and Secretary-General of the GANHRI’s meetings will continue as he will meet First Vice President of the Transitional Sovereign Council Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sudan and civil society organizations.
