The ICC was established by the 1999 Rome Statute, which took effect on July 1 this year and The Hague-based court is expected to start work early in 2003. To date, 85 countries have ratified the statute.

“Let us work together towards ensuring the success of this much-needed institution,” the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said in the statement released here.

But the United States, which opposes the formation of the ICC, has been seeking bilateral agreements with a number of countries to exempt U.S. personnel on their territory from the court's jurisdiction. Washington has concluded deals with 14 countries since July.

“Let the fundamental rules of human rights and human dignity apply to every state and every armed group, every individual and every collective, every public entity and every private corporation,” he added.

Meanwhile, a global network of churches, development agencies and other organizations, including the Geneva-based World Council of Churches (WCC), has launched a three-year campaign on trade and human rights.

They will press for international human rights, social and environmental agreements to take precedence over trade agreements and policies, the WCC said.

“Global trade can either promote or hinder justice, peace and sustainability,” Musimbi Kanyoro, of the World Young Women’s Christian Association said.

On the occasion, the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, issued a statement saying “No To War”.

“The International Declaration for Human Rights Day which came out on December 10, 1948, was declared as a reaction from the human conscious after the wars that spread the world during the colonial era and the destruction and crimes against humanity that it left behind.

“The west itself has suffered from the largest war known to mankind, World War II, and now, 54 years later, the war forces of the world, led by the American military force, are seeking to eliminate the values of the declaration and to return with history back to the era before it’s declaration.

“These forces are trying to distort the public’s opinion and convince them that the war it’s waging is in fact a defense of democratic values and human rights,” said the organization.

It added that the human rights records in the Arab world and in Iraq is embarrassing and disappointing.

Meanwhile, the super powers, led by the United States, are also practicing the worst forms of terrorism in the form of creating war and enlisting human rights organization around the world, and especially the Security Council, to serve its political and military needs.

“The security council is the military operation room of the world and the tool of creating obstacles in the path of enforcing legitimate rights, especially that of the Palestinian people,” the center said.

Speaking to IslamOnline, Hafez Abou Sa’ada, the director general of the organization, said that there are two major success in terms of human rights around the world. The first is the movements against globalizations which has been gaining momentum and the second is the establishment of the ICC.

In terms of the conditions of human rights in the Arab world, he said that it is the lowest around the world and that is because of the absence of the countries of the law.

He said that that includes the absence of the independence of the judiciary authorities and democracy as well as the fact that most of the Arab countries’ opposition is either chased or illegitimate. In addition the role of civil organizations is very limited.

Abou Sa’ada also said that the human rights organizations in the Arab world is working under pressure of the undemocratic governments, and under high security from these governments.