Why have so many UN human rights officials visited Algeria recently?

Lawlor also said: "The numerous high-level meetings arranged for my benefit affirm the Algerian government's dedication to sincerely address the specific protocols of the United Nations and strive for enhanced protection of human rights defenders."

She also said, "Most of these meetings transpired in an atmosphere characterised by mutual respect and constructive commitment."

Lawlor's visit was the second of its kind from a UN official in three months.

In mid-September, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, the UN special rapporteur on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, was in the country, also for ten days.

It was the first such trip since 2016, and Human Rights Watch made its claims against Algeria's government in a briefing before his visit.

Voule met government officials, parliamentarians, members of the judiciary and oversight bodies, as well as activists and representatives from civil society, including journalists and lawyers. He also saw figures from trade unions and political parties.

He called the trip "a positive indication of the growing openness to dialogue and collaboration in the realm of human rights." Ultimately, Voule made recommendations to the government, emphasising the necessity of amending specific laws and expanding freedoms.

International openness

Analysts say the engagement amounts to a deliberate policy of openness over human rights.

Professor Nour Sabah Aknouche, an expert in political science and international relations, told Al Majalla that it amounted to "positive engagement", adding: "This approach operates within the parameters of responsiveness and interaction, under the condition of upholding national sovereignty and adhering to Algerian law."

He emphasised, "Algeria's hosting of UN rapporteurs allows international human rights bodies to impartially evaluate the genuine status of freedoms and human rights in the country."

She continued: "The current endeavour of the Algerian government is to underscore its (openness) to all parties and foster positive collaboration with international governmental human rights organisations.

"The government's track record in the human rights domain is transparent. Its objective is to approach … human rights … transparently and unequivocally, … as a catalyst for political development, especially in a global context."

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune defended his country's human rights record in his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York last September. 

He said: "Algeria deeply believes that respecting and promoting human rights is the cornerstone of any credible political system."

Reforms

Djeddou Foued, a professor and researcher in the Department of Political Science and Media at Biskra University, told Al Majalla that since 2019, Algeria has been aware that it is "imperative for laws to align with issues of sovereignty related to national unity" and that it "is striving earnestly to advance human rights."

He added: "Numerous mechanisms have been instituted for this purpose as part of overarching reforms geared towards building a cohesive society and laying the groundwork for a new state … to build a robust foundation for a new relationship between Algerian citizens and the administration. This is grounded in the principles of a rule-of-law state, emphasising values of justice and equity."

Human Rights Watch pointed out that Voule's visit came after several years of postponement, but conceded it "inspires hope that the Algerian authorities will increase their cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms."