AOHR was founded in December 1983, as a regional non-governmental organization that aims to promote and protect Human Rights in the Arab World in accordance with international standards.

     AOHR obtained the consultative status in the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) in 1989. It also obtained the observative status in the African Commission for Human Rights and Peoples Rights in 1989. AOHR signed a headquarters agreement with the Government of Egypt in May 6th, 2000.

     AOHR is not involved in any political opposition activities or aims. It directs its protestation only against violence and violations of Human Rights and national and international law that are perpetrated either by governments or local groups.

     The General Secretariat of the Organization is based in Cairo. The Organization has branches and affiliated organizations in 8 Arab countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen). It has also affiliated national groups and individual memberships in the remaining Arab countries. In addition, AOHR has other four chapters that function among Arab communities in western countries (Austria, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom).

     The membership of the Organization is open to every citizen from the Arab countries whether inside or outside the Arab World who subscribes to its goals. Its leading positions are occupied by election.

     AOHR holds its General Assembly every three years and elects a board of trustees and an executive committee. Its internal structure contains a general secretariat and six sub-committees (Legal Committee, Committee for the Freedom of Expression, Committee for Planning and Coordinating human rights Campaigns, Women's Committee, Membership Committee and Resource Development Committee).

     AOHR has established in 1989 - in association with Arab Lawyers Union, The Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights and the support of the Center for Human Rights in the UN the Arab Institute for Human Rights in Tunisia. This comes along with AOHR's efforts to promote and propagate for its goals in educating, training and documenting in the field of Human Rights. In 1993, this institute won the UNESCO Human Rights education prize.

     AOHR established with other 31 human rights NGOs an Arab network in cooperation with Arab Lawyers Union (ALU) and Arab Institute for Human Rights (AHRINET) to enhance the capabilities of human rights organizations to attain and exchanging information, as well as developing their flow and supporting and promoting cooperation and solidarity amongst the various parties in the Arab movement for human rights.

     The Organization publishes a monthly newsletter in Arabic and English, an annual report in Arabic and a summary in English, a non-periodical research magazine entitled: "Human Rights Issues" and a series entitled "Nadawat Fikria" and other forms of publications when needed, as there are: press releases, reports in the findings of field research and fact-finding missions and books that propagate for principles of Human Rights and the rule of law. The AOHR also organizes seminars discussing issues related to human rights in the Arab world.

     AOHR is funded by its membership fees and the revenues of selling its publications and the interests of the deposit that consists of its membership donations. The Organization does not accept any governmental donations. It presents its final accounts and budget to its Board of Trustees for approval and a three years account to its General Assembly.