(UN Development Program) Regional Bureau for Arab States - The third Arab Human Development Report (AHDR) systematically surveys the pace of political change in the Arab world and strongly urges a rapid acceleration of democratic reform, with specific proposals for new regional human rights institutions, robust and freely elected legislatures, and truly independent judiciaries. The AHDR 2004 presents a persuasive and detailed case for many far-reaching legal and political reforms aimed at fortifying the institutional foundations of freedom and limiting the monopoly on power currently enjoyed by the executive in most countries in the region. While this calls for a broad range of corrective action, the authors underscore these immediate needs for reform: Total respect for the key freedoms of opinion, expression, and association. Ending all types of marginalization and discrimination against social groups and minorities. Guaranteeing the independence of the judiciary and ending reliance on military tribunals and other "exceptional" courts. Abolishing the "states of emergency" that have become permanent features of governance in the region. The report demonstrates that pressure for political change has been intensifying within the Arab world for several years now, and the authors warn that unless Arab governments move much more quickly towards reform they could face "chaotic" social upheaval. The authors underscore that the status quo is no longer sustainable. If the Arabs themselves do not take real steps toward change, the global powers will step in and lead the process of reform from outside. The authors of the AHDR 2004 reiterate their previous condemnations of violence against unarmed civilians, whatever the source: "Extremist groups which perpetrate assassinations and bombings and espouse the use of violence also violate the right to life," the authors write, just as "armed confrontations between security forces and armed groups result in civilian casualties that can outnumber victims in the ranks of the combatants."
2005-04-05 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive