COLLECTION OF EssAYs RECUEIL D' ARTICLES - Naciones Unidas

3. Placing the question of the exercise of human rights
in a particular country on the agenda for meetings of the
Commission on Human Rights and the adoption of
unfavourable resolutions concerning that country.
This trend has aroused the apprehension and fear of a large
number of countries for one simple reason, namely, that this focus on
legal measures leading to the invocation of the human rights instruments
has caused the individual, who is the focus of all rights, whether
cultural, social or religious, and of the customs and traditions that
govern the society in which he or she lives, to be forgotten.
Perhaps this is one of those fundamental problems in the
context of which the legal adviser in any foreign ministry in any small,
new country sees himself or herself as powerless to influence those who
make the decision concerning accession to international human rights
instruments. Instead of the focus being on legal measures for the
invocation of human rights instruments, it should be on studying
cultural, social and religious factors and customs and traditions in the
society in question for the purpose of finding a general unifying concept
between them and human rights. This can only be achieved gradually.
M. Democracy, Weapons of Mass Destruction and the
Environment
What is said of human rights can also be said of democracy,
which is pivotal to all rights. Democracy can only be achieved
gradually. In this connection, mention must be made of what is being
done by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Amir of
Qatar. He is proceeding with great perseverance and interest, but
gradually, towards the exercise of human rights in Qatari society in a
manner that does not conflict with the traditions of Islam, the State
religion. He is also proceeding towards the creation of a democratic
regime, and one of the keystones for this was put in place a short time
ago by His Highness the Amir when he promulgated a new election law 6
in which he gave Qatari women the right to stand as candidates for
office and to be elected.
It has become clear that some major Powers, and particularly
6 Law No. 17 of 1998.