Tayeb Louh pins blame on Ksentini’s body for black reports on Human Rights

The Minister of Justice, and Keeper of the Seals, Tayeb Louh, has blamed the chairman of the “Advisory Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights,” lawyer Farouk Ksentini, without mentioning his name, for the black reports issued by international bodies for human rights in Algeria, when he said, ” human rights and their protectors in Algeria, have lost places in the international Classification of institutions of human rights since 2009 after the country was downgraded from the position “A” to the position “B”.

The Minister of Justice, said on the occasion of the introduction of the draft law defining the National Council for Human Rights lineup and the clauses for the appointment of its members, on Wednesday in Algiers that the decline in Algeria in the International Classification, has prevented the Algerian human rights institutions from duly participating in the civil and human rights mechanisms of the United Nations.

The minister made a presentation before MPs of Lower House about the bill providing for the setting up of the National Council of Human Rights (CNDH), modalities of designation of its members and rules relating to its organization.

 He asserted that this bill is part of “the implementation of the new constitutional provisions that granted a particular position to rights and freedoms and shored up the role of justice to ensure their full respect.”

These provisions provide for the creation of a National Council of Human Rights “that ensures monitoring and assessment of human rights and related issues. It also detects and investigates violations of human rights and notifies relevant authorities while voicing appropriate opinions and making suggestions,” he added.

Besides, said Mr. Louh, the bill “reflects Algeria’s political willingness to further promote human rights and enshrine the fundamental principles outlined in the country’s Constitution.”

The minister also referred to the progress made by Algeria in terms of human rights promotion, particularly through the review of the legal system relating to women affairs that allowed strengthen their representation within elected assemblies, back up their civil and political rights and protect them against all forms of violence.”

The minister recalled that according to article 8 of this bill, the Council submits an annual report on the human rights situation in Algeria to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and to Parliament. 

The projected Council to include 38 members will work in the framework of its duties on the “promotion of human rights with the United Nations and specialized regional institutions and organizations and national human rights institutions in other countries, as well as with non-governmental organizations,” according to the law, he underlined.

The Justice Minister also dispelled the accusations and reports that distort the reality of human rights in Algeria by saying: “The National Council for Human Rights reflects the firm political will of Algeria to further promote human rights and provide for the enshrinement of the basic principles of the Constitution as the guarantor of these rights,” he added.

Mr Tayeb Louh also pointed out that the human rights council will witness a quantum leap in the field of human rights, stressing that it will be independent and won’t be under the tutelage of the ministries.