Geneva: The National Center for Human Rights (NCHR) actively engaged in the annual meeting and conference of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Center was represented by Chairperson of the Board of Trustees Samar Haj Hassan and Director of the International Cooperation Department Nidal Muqabala.
According to Jordan News Agency, the conference is a significant platform that gathers heads and representatives of national human rights institutions from around the world. The event aims to address emerging human rights issues, exchange expertise, and bolster international cooperation frameworks to protect and promote human rights.
The meetings, which commenced on Monday, included sessions from regional networks such as the Asia-Pacific Forum, the European Network, the Americas Network, and the African Network of National Human Rights Institutions. Each network addressed specific challenges and opportunities within their respective regions. The GANHRI Executive Bureau, chaired by Amina Bouayach, also convened to discuss various organizational and administrative matters. Key agenda items included the adoption of previous resolutions, ratification of Executive Bureau membership, and reviewing periodic activity reports for both the global alliance and its regional networks.
Presentations from international partners like the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Program were featured, covering topics such as accreditation processes, the adoption of the 2025 financial report, and discussions on the proposed 2026 work plan and budget. The exchange of expertise and best practices was a major focus, with discussions addressing issues related to displaced persons.
On the sidelines of the conference, Haj Hassan led a seminar organized by the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions, in collaboration with the Independent Commission for Human Rights. The seminar, titled "Defending International Law and the Multilateral System: The Role of National Human Rights Institutions in an Era of Decline," explored the growing challenges facing the international legal order and emphasized the role of national institutions in reinforcing adherence to it.
Additionally, Haj Hassan contributed to a symposium by the Omani Institution for Human Rights with a working paper on "The Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights in Light of the Unstable Conditions in the Middle East." The paper reviewed key challenges and opportunities related to artificial intelligence technologies and their impact on human rights systems, especially in crisis-affected areas.