​​Since the 1980s and 1990s, many Arab countries have joined numerous international and regional agreements and treaties for the protection of human rights. Most Arab constitutions include sections related to the protection of rights and public freedoms, and over the past two decades many governments in the Arab region have moved toward establishing national institutions concerned with human rights. However, the region continues to witness a sharp decline in indicators of respect for human rights, particularly after the ebb of what became known as the “Arab Spring” uprisings. In this context, the Hikama journal has taken interest in human rights policies in Arab countries and has dedicated a special issue to them. This issue includes multiple themes addressing matters related to the development of human rights policies in Arab states, the interaction between international human rights agreements and national legislation and policies, and the evolution of debate on the universality of human rights in the Arab world.​