Maat organizes training on documenting violations of conventional weapons and how to advocate for human rights in the Arab world

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Maat Organizes Training on Documenting Violations of Conventional Weapons and Human Rights Advocacy in the Arab Region

November 3, 2025

"Mokhtar": We recommend adherence to international legal standards regarding the transfer and use of conventional weapons

"Elsanhoty": International rules derived from the ICJ Statute must be respected

On October 30, 2025, Maat for Peace, Development, and Human Rights, in collaboration with the International Consulting Group for Training and Legal Practice, organized a virtual training workshop titled "How to Document Violations Resulting from Conventional Weapons in the Arab Region," targeting employees of civil society organizations.

The workshop aimed to enhance participants' capabilities in documenting violations associated with the use of conventional weapons by providing them with theoretical and practical knowledge related to the types of these weapons and their humanitarian impacts, as well as the international restrictions imposed on their use, transfer, production, development, and stockpile destruction. It included practical training on documentation mechanisms, the use of open-source investigation tools, and data analysis from primary and secondary sources, concluding with practical exercises on international human rights advocacy in disarmament issues.

In this regard, Mohamed Mokhtar, Director of the Disarmament Unit at Maat, emphasized that documenting violations related to the use of conventional weapons is a fundamental pillar for holding accountable those responsible for serious violations, respecting the dignity of victims, and building the collective memory of communities affected by conflicts. Makhtar stressed the restrictions on the production, development, storage, and destruction of conventional weapons stockpiles, recommending the necessity of respecting international legal standards on their transfer and use.

Ahmed Elsanhoty, Deputy Director of the Disarmament Unit at Maat, addressed the international legal framework governing the use and transfer of conventional weapons, reviewing key relevant international agreements such as the Convention on Conventional Weapons and its Protocols, the Landmines Convention, the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and the Arms Trade Treaty. Elsanhoty urged respect for international rules derived from Article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which represents the reference basis for international disarmament law, including treaties and conventions, customary international law, general principles, and rulings from international courts, as well as flexible laws related to this field.

It is worth noting that the workshop focused on human rights advocacy in conventional weapons issues, and the tools and methods of international advocacy, including monitoring, documentation, lobbying, coalition-building, participation in UN disarmament mechanisms, as well as media campaigns and public mobilization.