Arab Charter on Human Rights

Abstract

The Boston University International Law Journal is publishing, for the first time, an English version of the 2004 Arab Charter on Human Rights. A very brief review of how the 2004 Arab Charter came into being introduces this English translation. The drafting history of the Arab Char- ter on Human Rights begins in 1960. In that year, members of the Union of Arab Lawyers (the oldest NGO in the Arab world) requested the League of Arab States (created in 1945)1 during their meeting in Damas- cus to adopt an Arab Convention on Human Rights2 . Eight years later, participants in the first meeting for Human Rights in the Arab world held in Beirut, asked the Arab Commission on Human Rights3 to prepare an Arab Charter on Human Rights4 .