Group of Experts on Regional Security in the Middle East and the Elimination of Weapons of Mass Destruction (1995-2004)
From 1995 to 2004, Professor M. Cherif Bassiouni and
Professor Barry Kellman coordinated a Track II initiative aimed at
establishing a regional security regime in the Middle East and
eliminating weapons of mass destruction. This project involved fifteen
working sessions held in the Middle East, Europe and the United States.
Each meeting involved twenty-five to thirty senior-level retired
military officials, diplomats, and leading academics from Egypt, Israel,
Jordan, and the United States. In 2003, IHRLI prepared a publication
presenting the documents of the Group of Experts and summaries of the
meetings. The project also produced Documents on the Arab-Israeli
Conflict (Transnational Publishers, 2005), a two-volume reference guide
containing most of the significant documents that have influenced the
Arab-Israeli conflict from the late 19th century to the present.
Arab ICC Project (2001 - 2004)
The Arab ICC Project supported the ratification and
accession of Arab states to the ICC Statute through high-level meetings,
conferences and consultations with government officials in Bahrain,
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia, the United
Arab Emirates and Yemen. Professor M. Cherif Bassiouni and IHRLI staff
have presented numerous lectures and engaged in consultations regarding
ICC implementation. IHRLI has also worked in partnership with local
groups and governments on a regional conference held at ISISC for
Ministers of Justice and other high ranking officials, a conference in
Yemen to support the ICC, lectures at the United Arab Emirates Police
Academy in Dubai and conferences in Bahrain and Morocco on regional
ratification and implementation of the Rome Statute. IHRLI prepared the
first publication in Arabic on the ICC in 2001, which included an
explanation of the ICC and a review of the Rome Statute. In addition,
IHRLI prepared two books in Arabic on the ICC - Documents of the
International Criminal Court: A Textbook and The International Criminal
Court: Introduction to the Study of the Rome Statute Provisions and
Domestic Implementation (Dar al Shorouk 2004).
Holy Sites Project (2003-2006)
The Holy Sites Project outlines a special legal regime
to protect Christian, Jewish and Muslim,sacred spaces in Jerusalem. The
regime respects the interests of the local governmental, safeguards the
sites and ensures accessibility for people of faith and others. The
regime provides a mediating link between governments, citizens and
non-governmental organizations to resolve conflicts, address
administrative concerns and provide methods of support for the
maintenance of these sites. The project also seeks to promote better
understanding and a spirit of cooperation between Jews, Christians, and
Muslims. In 2005, Executive Director David E. Guinn completed a report
for the Holy Sites project which was later published.
Human Rights Training in Jordan (2005)
In 2005, IHRLI co-sponsored several training seminars
on Human Rights with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Jordan. The
3-day training course included government officials from the Ministries
of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Education and Justice, the Police Academy,
General Intelligence, and the Human Rights Institute.