MANAMA, Jan 23 (KUNA) -- The GCC member states are undoubtedly able to promote and safeguard their human rights by means of introducing mechanisms and initiatives purposed to revamp and disseminate the culture of human rights, said Bahrain's parliament speaker Ahmad bin Ibrahim Al-Mulla.
"The GCC leaders are determined and able to consolidate and protect human rights," the Speaker of the Bahraini Council of Representatives said in a keynote speech at the Second "Human Rights in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)" Conference, themed "Human Rights Systems of the National, Regional and International Challenges." But, he regretted that there are some external challenges pertinent to the stances of several organizations and countries which are in the habit of capitalizing on the issue of human rights for political purposes and strategic ends.
Some organizations often adopt double standards and issue unfair reports and subjective information with the main goal of fomenting sectarian strife within the GCC society, and of dissuading the GCC countries from reform and development, he lamented.
"Therefore, it's the responsibility of everyone in the GCC countries to stand united in face of these organizations and countries, and even to expose their lies, incitement and support to terrorists and extremists," Al-Mulla requested.
On his part, Secretary-General of the Second "Human Rights in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)" Conference Isa Al-Arabi hailed the gathering as mainly aiming to promote inter-GCC partnership in the domain of human rights.
Al-Arabi, who doubles as Secretary-General of the Arab Federation for Human Rights, said the federation is seeking to unify efforts so as to create more integration and interaction among all Arab human rights organizations.
Meanwhile, Arab Parliament President Ahmad Al-Jarwan highly acclaimed ongoing efforts exerted by the GCC countries to strengthen their human rights situations.
"The GCC members are unequivocally eager to promote their human rights through legislative and political regulations targeting equity among all spectrums of the Gulf society," Al-Jawan said to KUNA on the sidelines of the gathering.
But, he regretted that several international organizations and countries are trying to belittle the progress in the GCC members' human rights, rejecting such bids as having nothing to do whatsoever with human rights.
The conference is co-organized by the Arab Federation for Human Rights, the Maan Human Rights Society and the International Gulf Organization for Human Rights.
National human rights institutions, GCC Secretariat-General, Arab League, Arab Human Rights Committee, independent human rights agencies, representatives of GCC, regional and international human rights NGOs are taking part in the conference. (end) mga.mt