Abu Dhabi, 19 June 2025 – In a landmark effort to advance understanding and foster collaboration, the Permanent Committee for Human Rights (PCHR) in partnership with the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA), convened a high-level fireside chat, bringing together representatives from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), the the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights as well as the Arab Charter Committee on Human Rights of the League of Arab States, under the theme “Regional Human Rights Mechanisms: Commonalities and Unique Perspectives”.
In recognition of the UAE’s role as a bridge builder, participants emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and exchange among regional bodies to strengthen accountability, foster innovation, and respond effectively to emerging human rights challenges.
This event, which is part of a series of human rights fireside chats running from February to June 2025, featured two panels to explore the role and evolution regional human rights systems, their relationships with national governments and international frameworks with the goal of deepening understanding of the importance and impact of these regional mechanisms in advancing human rights.
In his opening remarks, HE Nikolay Mladenov, Director General of AGDA, commended the efforts of the PCHR and AGDA in convening a timely and important discussion, while highlighting the vital role of academia in advancing human rights and preparing future diplomats and policymakers who are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to uphold the principles of human rights.
Supporting this sentiment, Hind Alowais, Director of the Permanent Committee for Human Rights emphasized that these efforts align closely with the UAE’s commitment to building partnerships across regions, fostering dialogue, and promoting mutual understanding as essential pathways to advancing human rights. This dedication to open exchange and mutual respect is deeply embedded in the country’s social fabric, shaping its approach to human rights both domestically and internationally.
Reflecting on the trajectory, impact, and continued importance of regional human rights mechanisms, Jorge Meza Flores (Deputy Executive Secretary for the Petition and Case System of the IACHR) stated: “These mechanisms emerged, in many cases, as a response to historical atrocities and systemic repression. Their work has proactively adapted to the evolving social and political realities of the regions, reflecting a profound commitment to addressing both current and emerging challenges in the region and around the globe, and to providing truth, justice, and reparation for victims of human rights violations.”
Hon. Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie (Vice-Chairperson and Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights), addressed the importance of regional specificities and contextual approaches and emphasized the need to adapt universal principles to local realities, empasizing that: “The African Charter stands apart in the global human rights architecture by affirming that human dignity is not only vested in individuals but also in communities. It boldly enshrines the rights of people to development, self-determination, and a satisfactory environment- reflecting Africa’s deep-rooted values of solidarity, collective well-being, and inseparability of the individual from the community.”
Commenting on the importance of collaboration and building partnerships, Ayşegül Uzun Marinković (Deputy Jurisconsult, Registry of the European Court of Human Rights) highlighted that, “engaging in judicial dialogue at the operational level strengthens mutual trust and understanding, enabling for the effective implementation of human rights instruments”.
In the second panel, Mohamed Alshehhi (Chairperson of Arab Charter Committee on Human Rights, League of Arab States) reflected on the important role of the Arab Charter Committee in upholding human rights in the region. Al-Shehhi emphasized the importance of multi-level cooperation—national, regional, and international—to promote and protect human rights. In addressing the right to development, he said that “we all still have much work to do, which will be achieved through integration among all.
HE Ambassador Yong Chanthalangsy (Representative of Lao PDR and former Chair of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights) highlighted the role of AICHR, stating that “AICHR places the ASEAN peoples at the heart of our efforts and ensure meaningful, inclusive participation of all stakeholders in the ASEAN Community-building process. It contributes to the realisation of the ASEAN Charter’s purposes—promoting regional stability, harmony, friendship, and cooperation, as well as the well-being, livelihood, and participation of our peoples.”
The event concluded with a shared recognition that, while regional systems vary in form and function, they are essential to the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide. Their ability to reflect local realities while upholding universal standards makes them vital in bridging the gap between global norms and national implementation.