Arab human rights activists have urged the setting up of a permanent human rights committee under the aegis of the GCC General Secretariat. This call was made at the end of the five-day Regional Programme for Human Rights Activists held at the Millennium Hotel here. Thirty-five human rights activists representing civic societies and institutions in the Gulf States and Yemen participated in the event organised by the National Human Right Committee (NHRC) and Yemen's Human Rights Information and Training Centre (HRITC). The programme covered topics relating to human rights issues including the philosophy and history of the development of the Human Rights movements in the Arab World. Technical and legal terms of reference were also discussed as well as UN functional bodies and organisations. The key speakers at event were Dr Ali bin Smaikh Al Mari, NHRC's Secretary General, Dr Youssef Obaidan, Professor of Political Science at Qatar University, Dr Ahmed Qassem Hamidi, Professor of International Humanitarian Law at the Law Faculty and Dr Abdulghawi Salem, HRITC's Director. A number of papers and lectures were presented during the event that concluded its session on July 10 with a several recommendations. "We hope that our recommendations would be promulgated into regulations by the decision makers," said Dr Obaidan. To further build capacity and establish a network of activists six more events will be held in other GCC countries and Yemen. They are targeting around 170 human right activists from the Arab world. The Pen

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