Egyptian Human Rights NGOs Demand: Real & Prompt Political Reform.No Ineffective Entities.

Cairo-February 17th, 2004

     In a climate engendered by a state of emergency imposed in Egypt since 1981, a backdrop of a system of legislation that severely limits rights to the freedom of forming parties, publications and civil society. Furthermore, considering an increase in unlawful administrative detention cases, exceptional trials that lack the minimum standards guaranteeing a fair and impartial hearing as well as an increase in cases of forced abduction.

     Despite all these deficiencies, as well as the substandard social/economic status of a broad sector of civilians as a result of the corruption of powerful actors, the Egyptian government nonetheless decided to establish a National Council for Human Rights 94/2003. It also designated the members of this council under circumstances that have initiated debates and even introduced suspicions regarding the establishment, constitution and role of the National Council for Human Rights. In accordance with its law of establishment, such a council has no executive function but instead only an advisory role.

     Consequently, many Egyptian human rights' organizations held a discussion meeting on 14 February 2004 in the headquarters of the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP) to outline work strategies and discuss possibilities of coordinating efforts among NGOs during the forthcoming stages, and additionally to declare its stance regarding the National Council for Human Rights. After the discussion and the voicing of many views, taking into account the prevailing climate surrounding human rights' organizations as it is the same as the conditions in which the National Council for Human Rights will practice its advisory role under, the participants of the meeting have agreed on the necessity of a permanent coordination and joint collaboration through the following:

1. To convene a monthly meeting that takes precedence on NGOs' agendas with the aim of a lasting coordination and progressive discussion. 2. To settle on conducting joint contributions by all organizations to facilitate the monitoring and exposure of human rights violations. 3. To decide on a joint goal in the framework of an annual strategy for human rights organizations.

Participants have agreed on the view that the government's establishment of a National Council for Human Rights at this time is an attempt to brush up the government's image in international society, particularly because of the violations of human rights in Egypt that have been shown through the many cases documented by human rights organizations.

      They have also considered this council as an attempt to constrict civil society and human rights organizations with the purpose of finishing the process that began with the issuing of NGOs law 84/2002. Participants ground their view of the National Council for Human Rights on their doubts towards the efficacy of a government initiative to enhance the status of human rights under emergency law, which include systematic practices that breach political, social and economic human rights as well as restricting the right to freedom of speech, formation of political parties and the publications. Furthermore, sixteen thousand detainees remain without charge or trial, torture is used methodically in police stations and Egyptian prisons, officials have been discharged, judicial provisions disrespected and left unimplemented, and the right to peaceful assembly and the right to strike have both been strongly limited.

      Participating organizations have agreed that they do not intend to deal with such a council under conditions that call into question the council's credibility and give rise to suspicions about the objective of its establishment unless the Egyptian government were to issue the following decisions:

Organizations (in alphabetical order):