Tags: civil society
EIPR believes that this world-wide support presented a good example of what could be achieved despite the severely shrunken space for civil society at large and the gagging of all professional and pro-democracy voices in Egypt’s mainstream media.
Gasser Abdel-Razek, EIPR’s executive director, attended today a civil society business lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron, his foreign minister, Jean-Yves La Drian, and other members of the delegation accompanying the French President during his visit to Egypt.
The undersigned 48 civil society organisations, coming from all regions, urge your delegation to support the adoption of the resolution on cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field of human rights as tabled. We urge you to resist efforts to undermine and weaken this resolution.
The persistent legal harassment—the closure of the Nadeem Center will not be the last incident—will not deter Egyptian rights organizations from steadfastly exposing the current regime’s abuses and its violations of citizens’ fundamental human rights. We will continue to conduct research, monitor, and raise awareness in service of human rights principles and in defense of those victimized by draconian laws designed to forcefully shutdown the public sphere and all outlets for peaceful expression of opinion.
Parliament began to debate the bill and approved 40 of its 89 articles yesterday in record time. It is scheduled to resume debate on the remaining articles on November 15. We also condemn parliament’s treatment of civil society as an enemy to be defeated through secret plots and laws.
The prosecution of Egyptian NGO leaders on criminal charges related to their legitimate human rights work appears increasingly imminent.
The independent human rights community in Egypt is at unprecedented risk. The recent imposition of travel bans, asset freezes as well as the interrogation of NGO staff by investigative judges illustrate a clear plan to prosecute the entire independent human rights movement.
Over the last few years, the term ‘civil society’ has raised much controversy starting with the basic question of the importance of civil society to begin with, and culminating in accusations of treason.
The meeting, held at the cabinet building, was held at the request of Bahey eddin Hassan following the sudden announcement by the Ministry of Social Solidarity of a new repressive draft law on associations.
