Alkarama's Mission

Alkarama is an NGO defending the victims of human rights violations in the Arab world – including violations of the right to life, to physical and mental integrity and to Civil and Political Rights – by using in priority international law mechanisms. Alkarama also helps to promote a culture of human rights in the Arab world.

Recognising the indivisibility of human rights, Alkarama has nevertheless given priority to the defence of people subjected or at risk of summary execution, enforced disappearance, torture and arbitrary detention as Alkarama regards these violations of the right to life, physical integrity and civil and political rights as very serious violations that are unfortunately still too common in this region.

To end these violations, Alkarama cooperates with local and national civil society actors, international organisations for the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as governments and other entities likely to can act on the human rights situation.

By engaging international mechanisms, we offer support and a last resort to the victims of these human rights violations, so that they achieve respect for their rights against the failure or inefficiency of their country's justice system.

We are also working for a strong international system of human rights protection, which reinforces the regional, national and local protection systems. In, particular, we contribute to fill the information gaps, and to increase the attention of international human rights protection mechanisms on human rights violations taking place in the Arab World. Alkarama encourages States to strengthen their national laws to defend and promote human rights.

Finally, Alkarama contributes to the promotion of the "culture" of human rights, by ensuring that the various groups that make up the civil society in these countries are familiar with the concept of human rights and are mobilising around it, know their rights and claim them, and feel protected by law.

Through our projects, we provide these actors the necessary tools so that they can assert their rights both nationally and internationally.

Alkarama's Goals

1. Document and denounce human rights violations in the Arab world;
2. Provide moral and judicial assistance to the victims of human rights violations;
3. Pursue the perpetrators of human rights violations and fight impunity;
4. Encourage and campaign for governments to respect human rights;
5. Spread the culture of human rights in Arab societies;
6. Train human rights defenders;
7. Support any initiative which reinforces the protection of citizens against human rights violations;
8. Make Alkarama a credible and effective organisation.