Louh: Algeria Is Sovereign… And Its Amended Laws Guarantee Fair Trials For All

Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Mr. Tayeb Louh, stressed that Algeria has made rapid strides in the field of human rights, whether through the arsenal of legislation and laws that have been amended to guarantee fair trials and individual freedoms after overtaking successfully the black decade’s crisis.

He also said that Algeria has incorporated its legislation the provisions into international charters and treaties relating to human rights and the preservation against all forms of crime.

Taking the floor at the opening on Sunday of the 14th session of the General Assembly of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions at the Aurassi Hotel in upper Algiers, Mr Louh said that Algeria has ratified and adhered to all the international and regional treaties on human rights and those related to the prevention and fight against all new forms of crime, adding that all these international instruments are now incorporated into the national legislation “.

Algeria has followed all steps taken by the United Nations to curb the criminal impact on human rights, the minister said, citing as an example the criminalization of the payment of ransoms, one of the most serious sources of terrorist financing, as well as the criminalization of trafficking in human beings. 

Dubbing terrorism “the most serious violation of human rights”, Mr. Louh stressed the crucial importance of cooperation and mutual assistance among Arab countries in the struggle and prevention of this scourge with on focus the telling experience of Algeria in this field.

The achievements registered by Algeria since independence in the promotion of human rights and individual freedoms, have been made possible thanks to the enlightened policy of the President of the Republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika in the management of the affairs of the State, he underscored.

“A policy marked from the onset by respecting national ideals, values and principles and aimed at adapting to development, modernity and prospecting for a better response to the concerns and aspirations of the citizens”, Mr. Louh added. 

Believing that freedom, justice, dignity and other fundamental values do not only materialize in political context,  he stated that economic rights cannot exist without a democratic basis, the justice minister explained to this effect, adding that Algeria is steadily working in its reform programs to fully guarantee all these rights, as he put it.

The proceedings of the 14th session of the General Assembly of the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions will continue in closed session on Monday to prepare the draft of the Network’s Action Plan for 2018 and the follow-up of the recommendations of the previous Assembly in addition to the discussion of certain logistical constraints.