Doha: HE Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi has lauded the Arab League Council of Ministers’ unanimous approval of the State of Qatar’s proposal to establish the Permanent Arab Committee for International Humanitarian Law. This move represents an Arab milestone and a significant advancement in boosting cooperation to promote the values of humanitarian law and compliance with the tenets of international humanitarian law in the Arab region amid the challenges besetting the region, His Excellency underlined.
According to Qatar News Agency, HE Al Mohannadi praised the efforts made by the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law, chaired by HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice and Chairman of the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law, Saeed bin Abdullah Al Suwaidi. The committee’s success in coordinating with national committees in sisterly Arab nations led to the development of a draft proposal for establishing the committee to meet the aspirations of the Arab states.
HE Al Mohannadi also highlighted the support given by the General Secretariat of the Arab League and the Legal Affairs Sector to adopt this draft proposal. He stated that Qatar’s proposal underscores its enduring commitment to respecting the tenets of international humanitarian law and promoting its provisions on the Arab stage. The proposal aligns with the efforts aimed at enforcing the law at multiple national levels, in accordance with the provisions of the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the two Additional Protocols of 1977, and the regional action plans of the relevant Arab national committees.
HE Al Suwaidi expressed gratitude for the approval of Qatar’s proposal, emphasizing the national committee’s initiative. The initiative is rooted in the State of Qatar’s belief and unwavering commitment to international humanitarian law, as demonstrated by the nation’s leading initiatives to craft national legislations and establish a national committee related to international humanitarian law.
Al Suwaidi extended his gratitude to national committees in the Arab countries and the Arab League’s Legal Affairs Sector for their support and efforts to approve this proposal. He noted that this approval ushers in a new era in the march of joint Arab action. The committee will operate under the supervision of the Arab League’s council at the ministerial level to coordinate action among the national committees in the area of international humanitarian law.
He pointed out that the committee ought to contribute to enhancing collaboration among the Arab national committees, spreading the culture of international humanitarian law, capitalizing on diverse experiences, and setting technical support plans and programs. Additionally, the committee aims to hold professional training sessions, seminars, and workshops in collaboration with the relevant regional committees and organizations.