Doha: (NHRC: 23/3/2009): H.E. NHRC Chairman, Dr. Ali Ben Smeikh al-Merry, today received, H.E. Suhair Bal-Hassan, the Chairperson of The International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH).
Bilateral relations and Human Rights issues were taken up during the audience.
The International Federation of Human Rights aka Fédération internationale des droits de l’homme (FIDH) is a federation of non-governmental human rights organizations. FIDH’s core mandate is to promote respect for all the rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
FIDH was established in 1922, when it united ten national organizations. It is a federation of 155 human rights organizations in nearly 100 countries. Among which are the French Ligue des droits de l’homme (LDH) and the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights.
FIDH coordinates and supports the activities of its member organizations, at the local, regional and international levels. Like its members, FIDH is not linked to any party or religion, and is independent.
FIDH has a consultative status before the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe, and observer status before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
It has consultative or observer status with several international bodies, including the Economic and Social Council in the UN, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Organization Internationale de la Francophonie, and the International Labour Organization.
FIDH also has “regular contact” with the European Union, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Organization of American States, United Nations Development Programme, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
FIDH has its headquarters in Paris. It relies primarily on a pool of dedicated volunteers. The organizational structure consists of elected boards and a small body of permanent staff who support the activities of the board members and the mission delegates.
Every three years, the FIDH Congress gathers together member organizations to elect the International Board, fix the priorities of the organization and decide whether to grant membership to new partners or to exclude member organizations which no longer satisfy the requirements laid down in the organization’s statutes.
The FIDH International Board reflects the diversity if its constituent organizations. It is composed of a President, Treasurer, 15 Vice-presidents and 5 Secretaries General, all of whom work on a voluntary basis and represent all regions of the world. Honorary Presidents have consultative status on the International Board. The International Board meets 3 times per year to define FIDH’s political and strategic orientations and to draw up and approve the budget.
The Executive Board is composed of the President, the Treasurer and the 5 Secretaries General, and is responsible for the management of FIDH on a daily basis.
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