FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 9, 2004
Contact: David Mac Dougall
Office of Strategic Communications
Email: macdougalld.gbr@orha.centcom.mil

MINISTRY OF HUMAN RIGHTS RECEIVES GIFT OF BOOKS IN ARABIC

Baghdad, Iraq:  Today, the newly opened Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights received a boost to its library. Andrey Glover, CPA Senior Adviser for Human Rights and Transitional Justice, donated dozens of books and brochures on human rights law and conventions in Arabic.   His Excellency Dr Abdul Basit Turki Said, Iraqi Minister for Human Rights, received the books on behalf of his Ministry staff.

Audrey Glover noted how important it was for the Ministry to build up its reference material in Arabic, saying “during Saddam Hussein’s regime, there was no respect for human rights in this country. Now, Iraqis themselves are building a future of freedom and tolerance for others. The CPA can help by supporting the work of the Ministry of Human Rights on many levels, including giving these much needed books in Arabic to help encourage debate, learning and understanding”.

Among the material received by the Ministry of Human Rights today were books on international humanitarian law printed by the International Human Rights Law Institute in Chicago; and copies of a reference guide to reporting instances of torture published by the University of Essex in England. The Ministry of Human Rights also received copies in Arabic of brochures produced by the United Nations. Topics included economic, social and cultural rights, summary executions, and race relations.

For more information about the book donation, please email David Mac Dougall at macdougalld.gbr@orha.centcom.mil