MUSCAT / GENEVA – “Just as Oman has successfully modernized and is a strong state, it can and should embrace further openness,” United Nations human rights expert Maina Kiai said at the end of his first official visit to the country. The Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association urged the Omani Government to embrace human rights with the same energy and focus they have devoted to economic development since opening up to the world 40 years ago. “This is the time for Oman to build on these… Continue reading →
(Click here for English) مسقط، 13 أيلول/سبتمبر 2014 أود أن أشكر حكومة سلطنة عمان على دعوتي لزيارة البلاد من أجل الاطلاع على وضع الحق في حرية التجمع السلمي وتكوين الجمعيات. أن سلطنة عمان هي أول دولة في الشرق الاوسط توجه الدعوة إلى ولايتي منذ إنشائها من قبل مجلس حقوق الإنسان في أكتوبر 2010. وتعتبر هذه الدعوة بمثابة شهادة… Continue reading →
(العربية) MUSCAT – I would like to thank the Government of the Sultanate of Oman for inviting me to visit the country in order to observe the situation of the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. Oman is the first country in the Middle East to extend an invitation to my mandate since its establishment by the Human Rights Council in October 2010. I view this as testimony of its willingness to have a frank, constructive and open dialogue on the situation of human rights. As a Special Rapporteur, I am an independent… Continue reading →
GENEVA – Three UN human rights experts, including Maina Kiai, have urged the State Parliament of Tasmania in Australia to refrain from adopting legislation against protests that disrupt businesses. The proposed bill, the experts say, could silence legitimate and lawful protests, is disproportionate, and targets specific issues such as the environment. “If passed, the law would almost certainly run afoul of Australia’s human rights obligations, which Tasmania is also obliged to uphold. State governments in Australia need to ensure the legislation… Continue reading →
GENEVA – A group of United Nations independent human rights experts has urged the government of Bahrain to release prominent human rights defender Maryam Al-Khawaja, who has been detained since 30 August on charges of assaulting a police officer. Ms. Al-Khawaja is the co-director of the Gulf Centre for Human Rights. She is also the daughter of the former president and co-founder of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), Abdulhadi Abdulla Hubail al-Khawaja, who has been in detention since 2011 and who has been the subject of numerous calls by… Continue reading →
