* Member reinstated in May 2023

As of this writing, the Charter has been endorsed by seventeen of the twenty-two Arab League member states, and ratified by fourteen: Algeria (2006), Bahrain (2006), Egypt (signed 2004, not yet ratified), Iraq (2013), Jordan (2004), Kuwait (2013), Lebanon (2011), Libya (2006), Morocco (signed 2004, not yet ratified), Palestine (2007), Qatar (2009), Saudi Arabia (2009), Sudan (2013), Syria (2007), Tunisia (signed 2004, not yet ratified), the United Arab Emirates (2008), and Yemen (2008).

The founding states of the Arab League sought not to create a regional power capable of imposing its will on others; rather, they sought to balance the strength of newly independent Arab states with the desire for a pan-Arab coalition. The League’s founding document, the Pact of the Arab League, are the result of this compromise between regional and national concerns. The compromise is likewise reflected in the League’s requirement of unanimous votes; its provision that cooperation between member states is optional; its status as an inter-governmental Organization; and its limited enforcement authority.

The Pact of the League of Arab States identifies the purpose of the League as follows:

“The purpose of the League is to draw closer the relations between member States and coordinate their political activities with the aim of realizing a close collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries.

It also has among its purposes a close co-operation of the member States with due regard to the structure of each of these States and the conditions prevailing therein, in the following matters:

Economic and financial matters, including trade, customs, currency, agriculture and industry;

Communications, including railways, roads, aviation, navigation, and posts and telegraphs;

Cultural matters;

Matters connected with nationality, passports, visas, execution of judgments and extradition;

Social welfare matters;

Health matters.” 

(Article 2, Pact of the League of Arab States, March 22, 1945)

The Pact of the League of Arab States does not address freedom of association or partnership with civil society, as these concepts were not common when the League was established in 1945. Citizens’ right to freedom of association gained explicit recognition in the first draft of the Arab Charter on Human Rights in 1994 (though this version was not ratified), and the League increasingly acknowledged the role and rights of civil society in the early 2000s. In 2004, the League appointed a Commissioner General for Civil Society to serve as a liaison to CSOs on the League’s behalf. The League also established two departments: The Department of Human Rights, concerned with developing an Arab human rights system; and the Department of Civil Society Observation and Vocational Unions, to communicate with CSOs in the Arab region and enhance their role in joint Arab action.

In May 2004, League members adopted the revised Arab Charter on Human Rights. The Charter provides for the protection and promotion of key civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. It provides that these rights are “universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated” (Article 1(4)). Protected rights include the rights to life, health, education, a fair trial, equality before the law, and a prohibition on torture.

The Charter explicitly protects freedom of association and peaceful assembly, mirroring the language used in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Article 24 of the Charter states:

“Every citizen has the right: (…)

• To freely form and join associations with others.
• To freedom of association and peaceful assembly.
• No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of these rights other than those which are prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.”

A number of aspects of the Charter are inconsistent with international law, however. The Charter grants some rights to citizens only, rather than all individuals regardless of citizenship. Certain rights, such as freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, are construed more narrowly by the Charter than in international instruments. The Charter also leaves regulation of many important rights to national legislation. Accordingly, for instance, the death penalty against children younger than eighteen (prohibited under international law) is allowed if national law provides for it.

Nonetheless, the Charter marks a major step forward for the Arab League’s recognition of human rights. In addition to enshrining fundamental rights, the Charter also provides for the creation of the Arab Human Rights Committee, an independent group of experts with a mandate to monitor member states’ implementation of the Charter’s provisions. As discussed below, this committee constitutes one of the primary venues for CSO engagement with the League.

Civil society is largely excluded from participation in decision-making within the framework of the League of Arab States. CSOs are able to obtain observer status to attend sessions of certain League bodies, including the Arab Permanent Committee on Human Rights (hereafter “Permanent Committee,” a different entity from the independent Arab Human Rights Committee discussed below), and the Arab Economic and Social Council. The criteria for obtaining this status is very restrictive, however, so few organizations are eligible. Further, observer status provides CSOs with very limited opportunities to actually participate in League processes.

Nonetheless, civil society has gradually made inroads towards greater, more systematic and transparent engagement with the Arab League. Beginning in 2008, the Arab Human Rights Committee has served as a forum for CSO participation in the protection of fundamental rights. CSOs are encouraged to help review state reports on human rights practices; submit parallel reports; attend Committee sessions; and participate in closed dialogue sessions with the Committee at which state representatives are not allowed. Most importantly, the Committee does not limit its engagement to CSOs that have attained observer status with the League.

While some progress has been made with regard to the Arab League’s recognition of civil society and openness to CSOs’ participation in its work, much remains to be done. As noted above, other than the Arab Committee on Human Rights, CSOs lack opportunities for meaningful engagement in critical aspects of the Arab League’s activities. CSOs’ attempts to inform revision of the Arab Charter on Human Rights in 2003, for instance, were largely ignored: A coalition of forty leading Arab human rights organizations engaged in extensive advocacy around twenty-seven detailed recommendations for reform, out of which only one was acted on.

CSOs were excluded altogether from the development of the Arab Court on Human Rights, as well. There were no civil society consultations regarding the drafting of the Court’s statute. CSOs managed to obtain a draft of the statute and through public papers and private meetings with League officials issued numerous objections and recommendations, but none of these were taken into account when the statute was adopted in September 2014 (the Court still remains not operational). CSOs cite a need for broad reform of the League’s internal processes to increase transparency and ensure genuine consultation with civil society.

In a positive sign, recognition of CSOs’ growing participation and engagement with the Arab League prompted member states to name 2016-2026 the Decade of Arab CSOs. During a launch event, on February 22, 2016, the UAE and other parties issued a communique recognizing the role CSOs play in development, and aspiring to develop a more favorable environment for Arab CSOs to play that role effectively. Nevertheless, there were few tangible examples of implementation of this initiative in subsequent years.

The Arab League also does not have a consistent approach to human rights, as reflected in its variable responses to rights violations in different countries. As noted above with regard to the Charter, the League has yet to bring its human rights standards into line with international law. The League generally could do much more to make human rights a standard component of its programs, initiatives, and decisions. Civil society can and should be enabled to help the League move in that direction, in the interest of enhanced protection of human rights in the Arab world.

UN warns Arab League security body failing to protect against political extraditions (June 2023)
UN experts have warned the Arab League that a security body run by its members is not shielding people who are wanted over political activities from the dangers of extradition. In a letter sent last week, the experts said they are also concerned that the Arab Interior Ministers Council (AIMC) is failing to assess the risks of torture or ill-treatment that individuals could face if returned. The AIMC, established in 1982, aims to develop and strengthen cooperation and coordination between Arab states in the field of internal security and to combat crime, including through circulating warrants on behalf of member states.

Arab League Votes to Readmit Syria (May 2023)
Arab nations agreed to allow Syria to rejoin the Arab League, taking a crucial step toward ending the country’s international ostracism more than a decade after it was suspended from the group over its use of ruthless force against its own people…. “Today, Arab states have put their own cynical realpolitik and diplomatic agendas above basic humanity,” said Laila Kiki, the executive director of the Syria Campaign, a nonprofit organization that supports Syrian civil society groups.

Civil Society Groups  Safeguard Sudan’s Transition To Democracy (February 2023)
In recent years, the civil society space witnessed the rise of more revolutionary forces, neighborhood resistance committees, and alliances such as the Sudanese Professional Association (SPA), which pushed the rest of the nation into action. Trade unions, opposition political parties, advocacy groups, and other members of the Sudanese civil society have been critical to the revolution’s success up to this point. They have been working independently and together to midwife the protesters’ demands: Freedom, Peace and Justice.

Gender equality ‘champion’ Sima Sami Bahous to lead UN Women (September 2021)

Syria’s return to the Arab League is not of itself sufficient (April 2021)

Syria ‘soon’ to return as Arab League member (February 2020)

UNHCR, League of Arab States launch the “Arab Strategy for the Protection of Refugee Children (November 2019)

Launch of Charter on Engagement with the League of Arab States (March 2019)

Press Release: Call for Nationality Law Reforms for Gender Equality in Middle East (November 2017)

Arab League calls for boycott of Israel as peaceful resistance (October 2017)

Five Takeaways from the Arab League’s 28th Summit (April 2017)

Young Arabs have a message for their leaders: Security is about more than war and terrorism (March 2017)

Activists call on Arab leaders to recognize women’s rights (March 2017)

27th Arab League Summit: Short on tangible results (August 2016)

UAE participates in Arab League’s Launch of Arab Charter on CSOs (February 2016)

Arab human rights court plan on track (June 2015)

Counter-terrorism cooperation with Arab League must respect fundamental rights (March 2015)

KSA, Arab League FMs to hold emergency meeting on Yemen (February 2015)

Lebanon to protest to Arab League after spillover Syrian fire kills two (May 2013)

Need for human rights watch groups in the wake of ethnic conflict (November 2012)

Arab League, OIC proposals out of step with progress on freedom of expression (September 2012)

Two scholars argue for “League of Arab Societies” in article for Foreign Policy (March 2012)

Ever fewer friends (November 2011)

HRW Calls Arab League to Hold Emergency Meeting on Syria (August 2011)

Arab League states: a recent history of protests (March 2011)

Arab League asks U.N. for no-fly zone over Libya (March 2011)

Conference of Arab Expatriates (December 2010)