UN Authority Figures

UN General Assembly Sixth Committee, the Legal Committee, Chair: Algeria
Term begins September 15, 2009

Compass Direct News
Habiba Kouider was charged by an Algerian prosecutor with preaching a non-Muslim religion without official permission. (News24, May 27, 2008)

Mission of the Sixth Committee, the Legal Committee, of the General Assembly: "The Sixth Committee is the primary forum for the consideration of legal questions in the General Assembly." (General Assembly - Legal Committee web-site, "Sixth Committee")

Term of office: 2009-2010

Algeria's Record on legal questions:
"[T]he president exercises supreme judicial authority, and executive branch decrees and influence limited judicial independence...[A]uthorities did not completely respect legal provisions regarding defendants' rights and denied due process. The High Judicial Council is responsible for judicial discipline and the appointment of all judges. President Bouteflika serves as the president of the council...Legal decisions regarding family matters are based on Shari'a (Islamic law) as well as civil law...The judiciary...lacked independence in human rights cases. Family connections and status of the parties involved reportedly influenced decisions." (US State Department's Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2008, Algeria)