DOCSLIB.ORG

NORTH AFRICA and the MIDDLE EAST

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
NORTH AFRICA and the MIDDLE EAST NORTH AFRICA and the MIDDLE EAST NORTH AFRICA and the MIDDLE EAST Page 207 NORTH AFRICA and the MIDDLE EAST Page 208 NORTH AFRICA and the MIDDLE EAST Defendings the Universality of Human Rights At the first international conference of the Arab human rights movement, held in Casablanca, Morocco, from 23rd to 25th April 1999, the final declaration contained an assessment of the political situation in Arab countries, dividing them into three groups. As of today, the first group, Saudi Arabia and some of the Gulf countries, have no “modern judicial structure, with neither constitution nor parliament;” they still reject most of the international human rights treaties and instruments. Invoking their cultu- ral and religious particularities as a reason, the governments of these countries deny any possibility of action, however limited, to human rights defenders. The second group is made up of countries which, like Syria, Iraq or Libya, have adhered to various covenants and treaties but which, in practice, fail to implement most of their regulations. The restric- tions on freedoms are so tight and the human rights situation is such that, it is nearly impossible to carry out any investigating and monitoring activities in the human rights field. Human rights organizations and the rest of civil society can only operate underground or from exile and, often, putting their own and the life of their relatives at risk. While states in the first group usually reject universality under religious pretexts, in the second group, governments often resort to the usual nationalistic, all-Arab rhetoric, as well as to the need for national unity, even though, in some cases, they are no longer holding back from invoking religion. The third group is not exempt from human rights violations: torture, lack of independence of the judiciary, and censorship, to give just a few examples, are routine. However, it can be argued that the deterioration of the human rights situation in these countries has intensified the most during the period covered by the present report (Egypt, Tunisia, Autonomous Palestinian Territories.) Particularly active in these countries, human rights defenders have suffered the most from these increased viola- tions, as we shall see in the Observatory’s urgent appeals. These three categories are obviously somewhat simplistic, as each country has its own particularities. Yet, within each group, similarities between national policies are a cause for concern. On 9th December 1998, after many years of stalling, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. Only one day earlier, 26 Member-States published an “interpretative declaration” announcing that, while they would support the existing draft, they would only implement its provisions in as much as they agree with their own national legislations. Signed by 14 Member-States of the Arab League, the interpretative declaration was presented on behalf of all the signatories by the Ambassador of Egypt to the United Nations. While it has no legal Page 209 NORTH AFRICA and the MIDDLE EAST value in international law, the declaration lays bare the motives of these governments, intent on restricting the freedom of action of human rights defenders as much as possible. A few months later, in May 1999, the Arab Covenant against Terrorism, adopted by the Arab interior ministers in 1998, eventually came into force after it was ratified by seven countries. Extraditing political opponents convicted of terrorism thus became legal, although this had long been a common extra-judicial practice among some Arab states. In the name of the fight against terrorism, which is perfectly legitimate under some conditions, this covenant took cooperation between national repressive policies one step further. First, the definition of what constitutes a terrorist act is so wide that, in some extreme cases, it can be interpreted to designate peaceful, dissident acts deemed dangerous by the State. In addition, in this region, the independence of the judiciary remains a very relative notion. According to the provisions of this new covenant, Mr. Rachid Mesli, a human rights defender who was convicted in Algeria, would have been unable to find refuge in any other Arab country. Another reason for concern during this period was the hasty adoption of a new Association Law in Egypt and the failure of the Palestinian authorities to enact a similar law, although it had been adopted by the Palestinian Legislative Council. In both cases, the authorities clearly revealed that their actual goal was to restrict human rights Non-Governmental Organizations, hinting that they threaten national security. Harassment against human rights defenders and their families, a practice culminating in Tunisia, or the ban on human rights work as in Iraq and Syria, are thus the most radical and visible tips of a systematic policy of distrust and repression against human rights defenders. At first sight, such policy seems contradictory since, although all these countries have opted for economic liberalization, at the same time, they oppose any genuine effort at political liberalization. Quite on the contrary, they emphasize their own religious and cultural particularities in order to reject the universality of human rights and to deny the indestructible link between civil and political rights and social and economic development. Therefore, the fact that human rights defenders, however sparse and powerless, are the main targets of these policies is not surprising, for they bear witness to the indivisibility of all human rights and convey a sense of universality. Driss El Yazami Page 210 NORTH AFRICA and the MIDDLE EAST From Khémaïs Ksila, the Vice-Chair of the Tunisian Human Rights League, who was released from two years in detention on 22nd September 1999 Gratitude and the duty to testify After being arrested on 29th September 1997, I was sentenced to a total of three years’ imprisonment on 11th February 1998, for «slandering public order and the authorities, circulating false news likely to disrupt public order, and inciting the citizens to violate the laws of the country» (Criminal Law, Art. 42-51.) The court of appeal and the Supreme Court upheld the verdict without giving me the opportunity to raise my own defence. All the trial monitors who were able to follow the proceedings corroborated that I had been denied the right to a fair trial, although this right is enshrined in international covenants ratified by Tunisia. This patently unfair trial only followed a long period of harassment and threats (I was dismissed from my job on 6th February 1996, and my passport was confiscated on 18th August 1996). The aims of such repressive acts were, on the one hand, to curb the enjoyment of my rights to freedom of opinion and expression as citizen and human rights defender, and, on the other hand, to undermine the Tunisian Human Rights League, whose margin of manoeuvre was already extremely narrow. Throughout the two years I spent behind bars, my wife, Fatma, and our three children experienced constant harassment and all kinds of pressures. Yet, all of us were fortunate enough to benefit from a steady advocacy effort, both at national and international levels. Heartening news of such widespread concern on my behalf reached me in my prison cell, as well as the decision, by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, to qualify my detention as arbitrary. Advocacy on my behalf was mainly organised by NGOs. I am all the more indebted to them that, thanks to their unwavering action, just a few days before I was released on parole, I had the great honour to be nominated to the 1999 Sakharov Prize of the European Parliament, along with five other people. I have at last been released from jail and, although I have been returned to my family and friends, once again, I have to face what Taoufik Ben Brik referred to as the “human bars of an invisible prison.” Yet, I shall not let this affect my happiness nor, and even more so, my feeling of gratitude. Page 211 NORTH AFRICA and the MIDDLE EAST Fatma, our children and myself would like to extend our warmest and affectionate thanks to you all; to all the staff and members of FIDH, OMCT and of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders; through these organizations, we would also like to thank the Tunisian Committee for the Respect of Freedoms and Human Rights; the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network; the Arab Human Rights Program; and all the Arab organizations for the protection of lawyers. We are especially thankful to Amnesty International for its relentless action, to the French, Belgian and Swiss Human Rights Leagues, to International Prison Watch, to CETIM (Europe-Third World Centre), to the Inter- national Commission of Jurists, and to the Service International des Droits de l’Homme. I have been deeply impressed by the advocacy efforts made by African human rights organizations, and by the campaigns launched in Canada and the United States by human rights networks, in particular, Human Rights Watch and the Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights. I am also greatly indebted to the work of many European Parliamentarians of all nationalities, and of elected officials in Belgium, Canada, France, Switzerland and the United States. To all of them, and to all our friends throughout the world, in the South and in the North, from Africa to Scandinavia, we would like to express our warmest thanks. Thanks to this huge, international advocacy effort, inter-governmental organizations, and in particular the relevant UN mechanisms, have adopted fair recommendations and positions on our behalf and with regards to the human rights defenders and the victims of repression in our country. Those behind the official repression have thus been clearly discredited. In particular, I would like to take this opportunity to convey my deepest consideration to Ms.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Seventh Annual Report of the National Council for Human Rights
    The National Council for Human Rights Together to Promote Human Rights The Seventh Annual Report of The National Council for Human Rights 2010-2011 1 Together to Promote Human Rights The Seventh Annual Report of The National Council for Human Rights 2010-2011 2 Table of Contents Introduction : General Overview on the Topics of the Report and its Main Recommendations Chapter I : Situation of Human Rights in First : Fundamental Rights 1- The Right to Life 2- The Right to Freedom and Personal Safety 3- The Right to Fair and Just Trial 4- Treatment of Prisoners and Other Detainees Second : Public Freedoms 1- Freedom of Thought and Belief 2- Freedom of Opinion and Expression 3- Freedom of Forming Political Parties, Syndicates and Civil Associations 4- The Right to Peaceful Assembly 5- The Right to Participate Third : Economic and Social Rights 1- The Right to Decent Living 2- The Right to Health 3- The Right to Housing 4- The Right to Education 5- The Right to Work Fourth : Key Issues 1- Sectarian Tension 2- Universal Periodic Review Mechanism 3- Combating Human Trafficking Chapter II : “Complaints Office “Activity and Level of Effort First : Classification of Complaints 1- Thematic Classification 2- Geographic Classification 3- Classification according to method of arrival Second : Analysis of the Complaints Contents 1- Complaints Relating to Civil and Political Rights 2- Complaints Relating to Economic and Social Rights Third : Fact-finding Missions Fourth : Field Visits to Prisons Fifth : Mobile Offices Sixth : Role of Regional Offices
    [Show full text]
  • State Violence, Mobility and Everyday Life in Cairo, Egypt
    University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Geography Geography 2015 State Violence, Mobility and Everyday Life in Cairo, Egypt Christine E. Smith University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Smith, Christine E., "State Violence, Mobility and Everyday Life in Cairo, Egypt" (2015). Theses and Dissertations--Geography. 34. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/geography_etds/34 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Geography at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Geography by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained needed written permission statement(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine) which will be submitted to UKnowledge as Additional File. I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the irrevocable, non-exclusive, and royalty-free license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless an embargo applies.
    [Show full text]
  • The History of the Muslim Brotherhood
    !e History of the Muslim Brotherhood The Political, Social and Economic Transformation of the Arab Republic of Egypt Michelle Paison We in the West !nd it incomprehensible that theological ideas still in"ame the minds of men, stirring up messianic passions that can leave societies in ruin. We had assumed that this was no longer possible, that human beings had learned to separate religious questions from political ones, that political theology died in 16h-century Europe. We were wrong.1 Islam is no longer exclusively a religion, but an ideology that provides a total framework for all aspects of political, social, economic, and cultural life in the Muslim world. Although Islam has continuously demonstrated the theme of resurgence throughout its history in response to the internal and external forces that challenge Muslim faith and society, the assertion of Islamism has strongly reemerged. Discontent is evident through the gradual movement towards Islamist ideology, whether or not the idea of Islam strongly resonates among the populous. Individuals, despondent from the suppression of alternatives from oppressive regimes, look towards change. Organizations, such as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, provide clear examples of the greater trend developing throughout the region of the Middle East and North Africa. #e political power and social in"uence held by the Brotherhood capitalizes on the Arab Republic of Egypt’s failure to support its peoples. Subsequently the dissatis!ed population turns to a movement that has the ability to provide the necessary services for survival; Islamism. #is increasing development is pushing moderate, mainstream Islam into the realm of radicalism through means of desperation.
    [Show full text]
  • 2019: Human Rights Watch World Report
    HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH WORLD REPORT | 2019 EVENTS OF 2018 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH WORLD REPORT 2019 EVENTS OF 2018 Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Human Rights Watch is an independent, international organization that Copyright © 2019 Human Rights Watch works as part of a vibrant movement to uphold human dignity and All rights reserved. advance the cause of human rights for all. Printed in the United States of America Human Rights Watch began in 1978 with the founding of its Europe and ISBN-13: 978-1-60980-884-6 Central Asia division (then known as Helsinki Watch). Today it also includes divisions covering Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Central Cover photo: Anti-government protestors in Venezuela take to the streets for a candlelight vigil in honor of protesters killed Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and the United States. There are in clashes with security forces. thematic divisions or programs on arms; business and human rights; © 2017 Associated Press children’s rights; disability rights; the environment and human rights; Back cover photo: Immigrant children, many of whom have health and human rights; international justice; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and been separated from their parents under a new “zero transgender rights; refugees; terrorism and counterterrorism; women’s tolerance” policy by the Trump administration, are being rights; and emergencies. housed in tents next to the Mexican border in Tornillo, Texas, US, June 18, 2018. The organization maintains offices in Amman, Amsterdam, Beirut, Berlin, © REUTERS/Mike Blake Bishkek, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Goma, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Kiev, Kinshasa, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Cover and book design by Rafael Jiménez Paris, San Francisco, São Paulo, Seoul, Silicon Valley, Stockholm, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Tunis, Washington DC, and Zurich, and field presences in more than 50 other locations globally.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluation of European Commission's Support to Egypt
    Evaluation of European Commission’s Support to Egypt – Country level Evaluation Final Report Volume II: Annexes December 2010 Evaluation for the European Commission Framework contract for Multi-country thematic and regional/country-level strategy evaluation studies and synthesis in the area of external co- operation Italy LOT 4: Evaluation of EC geographic co-operation strategies for countries/regions in Asia, Latin America, the Southern Mediterranean and Eastern Europe (the area of the New Aide à la Décision Economique Neighbourhood Policy) Belgium Ref.: EuropeAid/122888/C/SER/Multi Request for Service: 2008/166326 PARTICIP GmbH Germany Evaluation of European Commission’s Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik Support to Egypt Germany Country level Evaluation Overseas Development Institute, United Kingdom FINAL REPORT European Institute for Asian Studies Belgium Istituto Complutense de Estudios Internacionales Spain A consortium of Particip-ADE–DRN-DIE–ECDPM- December 2010 ODI c/o DRN, leading company: Headquarters Via Ippolito Nievo 62 00153 Rome, Italie Tel: +39-06-581-6074 This evaluation was carried out by ADE Fax: +39-06-581-6390 [email protected] Belgium office Square Eugène Plasky, 92 1030 Bruxelles, Belgique Tel: +32-2-732-4607 Tel: +32-2-736-1663 Fax: +32-2-706-5442 [email protected] The evaluation was managed by the Joint Evaluation Unit (EuropeAid, DG DEV and DG Relex). The author accepts sole responsibility for this report, drawn up on behalf of the European Commission. The report does not necessarily reflect
    [Show full text]
  • Egypt Counter-Terrorism Against the Background of an Endless State of Emergency of Person
    EGYPT Counter-terrorism against the background of an endless state of emergency of person. Article 4: No one shall be held in slavery Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms. Article 5: No one shall be subjected to in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Article 6: Everyone has the right to recognition spirit of brotherhood. Article 2: Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, everywhere as a person before the law. Article 7: All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimi- without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, nation to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination. Article 8: Everyone has the right to an effective rem- basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person edy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty. by
    [Show full text]
  • Human Rights Human
    ARAB ORGANIZATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS FOR HUMAN ORGANIZATION ARAB HUMAN AOHR .. Using the pretext of fear of terrorism loses its significance when restrictions are imposed RIGHTS on the civil society, on top of which come the human rights groups. A healthy civil society should only support human rights. Only then the civil society can become the IN THE ARAB WORLD HUMAN most vital factor in raising civil awareness, as well as curbing and eradicating terrorism. In the absence of a healthy civil society, anti RIGHTS -terrorism measures shall move in a vicious circle and all parties shall fail to fulfill common IN THE ARAB WORLD objectives and would finally lead to a total fiasco .. ..This report covers ... a period that was abundant with ambiguous events, due to the crimes committed, parties involved, and current and future outcomes. The report was not mistaken when it described the situation as a small-scale third world war taking place CAIRO REPORT OF THE ARAB ORGANIZATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS on Arab territories. One third of the world 2016 THE STATUS OF HUMAN RIGHTS countries take part in one way or another IN THE ARAB WORLD through bilateral or collective alliances. The said war aims to restructure the regional and international balance of power. CAIRO 2016 AOHR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE ARAB WORLD REPORT OF THE ARAB ORGANIZATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS THE STATUS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE ARAB WORLD CAIRO 2016 1 2 The report is prepared by Mr. Mohsen Awad In collaboration with Mr. Alaa Shalaby And : Mr. Mohammed Rady, Mr. Eslam Abol-Enien, Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Egyptian Constitution Timeline, 13 February 2011
    OIS 4 (2016) Media Culture in Transformation: Political Communication, Social Networking and Transition in Egypt Compiled by Hend Aly and Nadia Leihs Egyptian Constitution Timeline, 13 February 2011 to 31 January 2014 This timeline shows major changes relating to the constitutional debates between February 2011 and January 2014 (when the referendum on 2014 constitution took place). Unrelated events are not included. The timeline is part of the research project, "Media Culture Transformation: Political Communication, Social Movements and Transition in Egypt". The project was hosted by the Cairo Office of the Orient-Institut Beirut and funded by the Federal Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF) in Germany. 2011 13 February Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is ousted, following the massive protests that began on 25 January 2011. He had ruled the country since 1981. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), headed by Field Marshal Mohammed Tantawy, assumes power to rule Egypt. In a constitutional proclamation (https://web.archive.org/web/20140407220444/http://www.worldanalysis.net/modules/news/article.p ?http://www.sis.gov.eg/Ar/Templates/Articles/tmpArticles.aspx) (اللعل ن الدستور) (hp?storyid=1742 ArtID=44103#.VpEN2E-j_Cv), SCAF suspends the constitution of 1971, dissolves Parliament and calls for an end to strikes and protests. It appoints a new government, which retains most of Mubarakʼ s ministers in their positions. 15 February SCAF assigns a committee of experts to prepare in non-public sessions amendments to the 1971 (لجنة التعديل ت الدستورية) constitution (http://www.sis.gov.eg/Ar/Templates/Articles/tmpArticles.aspx?ArtID=44155). The committee is headed by the retired judge Tarek El-Bishry, who is known for his Islamist orientation.
    [Show full text]
  • Speak Truth to Power Human Rights Defenders Who Are Changing Our World
    SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS WHO ARE CHANGING OUR WORLD BASED ON THE BOOK BY KERRY KENNEDY • PHOTOGRAPHY BY EDDIE ADAMS CONTAINING THE PLAY “SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER: VOICES FROM BEYOND THE DARK” BY ARIEL DORFMAN • A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE ROBERT F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS AND NEW YORK STATE UNITED TEACHERS “EVERYTHING WE SHUT OUR EYES TO, EVERYTHING WE RUN AWAY FROM, EVERYTHING WE DENY, DENIGRATE OR DESPISE, SERVES TO DEFEAT US IN THE END. WHAT SEEMS NASTY, PAINFUL, EVIL, CAN BECOME A SOURCE OF BEAUTY, JOY, AND STRENGTH, IF FACED WITH AN OPEN MIND.” RigobeRta Menchu “THE MOST POTENT WEAPON IN THE HANDS OF THE OPPRESSOR IS THE MIND OF THE OPPRESSED.” steve biko “PEACE, IN THE SENSE OF THE ABSENCE OF WAR, IS OF LITTLE VALUE TO SOMEONE WHO IS DYING OF HUNGER OR COLD. IT WILL NOT REMOVE THE PAIN OF TORTURE INFLICTED ON A PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE. PEACE CAN ONLY LAST WHERE HUMAN RIGHTS ARE RESPECTED, WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE FED, AND WHERE INDIVIDUALS AND NATIONS ARE FREE.” his holiness the dalai laMa “IF YOU ARE NEUTRAL IN SITUATIONS OF INJUSTICE, YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE SIDE OF THE OPPRESSOR. IF AN ELEPHANT HAS ITS FOOT ON THE TAIL OF A MOUSE AND YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE NEUTRAL, THE MOUSE WILL NOT APPRECIATE YOUR NEUTRALITY.” desmond tutu “I THINK TO MYSELF, ’WHAT AM I DOING?’ I DON’T GAIN ANYTHING FOR MYSELF AND I CAN’T SEEM TO DO ANYTHING TO LESSEN THE SUFFERING. AT THE SAME TIME, IF I TURN MY BACK AND WALK AWAY, THERE WOULD BE NO ONE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.” ka hsaw wa “IT IS FROM NUMBERLESS DIVERSE ACTS OF COURAGE AND BELIEF THAT HUMAN HISTORY IS SHAPED.
    [Show full text]
  • Cyberactivism in Egypt: a New Social Movement
    The American University in Cairo School of Humanities and Social Sciences CYBERACTIVISM IN EGYPT: A NEW SOCIAL MOVEMENT A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Law in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in International Human Rights Law By Sherif Albert Azer Sewiha May 2009 1 The American University in Cairo School of Humanities and Social Sciences CYBERACTIVISM IN EGYPT: A NEW SOCIAL MOVEMENT A Thesis Submitted by Sherif Albert Azer Sewiha to the Department of Law May 2009 in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in International Human Rights Law has been approved by Professor Elna Sondergaard _______________________________ Thesis Supervisor Affiliation ____________________________________________ Date ____________________ Dr. Lama Abu-Odeh _________________________________________ Department Chair Date ____________________ Dr. Ann Lesch _________________________________________ Dean of HUSS Date ____________________ 2 DEDICATION This paper is dedicated to Professor Ali El Hadi, Vice-Provost of the American University in Cairo. I am grateful for his overwhelming support during my MA program at the AUC. Without his help, I would probably never have been able to graduate. 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Professor Elna Sondergaard for all her assistance in supervising my thesis and also for her support to human rights issues in Egypt. I would also like to thank Professor Tanya Monforte for her help and encouragement, not only as my thesis advisor for one semester, but also through the whole human rights program, in particular during the hard days. May I also express my gratitude to Diana Van Bogaert for all her support and assistance during the last years and for always offering me so much of her time, lately when reading my thesis.
    [Show full text]
  • Egypt, Libya and Tunisia
    Report on The Sub-Regional Forum on Women’s Participation in Post-Revolution Parliamentary Elections Comparative Experiences from Egypt, Libya and Tunisia Cairo, 9-10 December 2012 Comparative Experiences from Egypt, Libya and Tunisia Introduction This report aims at documenting the proceedings of the Sub-Regional Forum on Women’s Participation in Parliamentary Elections in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya; the three Arab countries which are going through a transition period to build democracy, since 2011, following the Arab Spring revolutions. It presents comparative experiences, regional and international perspec- tives, as well as the discussions and debates that revolved around them. The Forum, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), brought together more than 120 participants from among policy and decision makers, legislators and national opinion lead- ers from Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. It also included members of the committees for drafting of legislations (constitution or electoral laws); government representatives; elected and non- elected candidates (men and women); members from the main political parties; academia and the media; civil society organizations; women election observers; as well as representatives of international organizations. This varied group was selected to ensure the engagement of both men and women to support efforts and partnerships conducive to the achievement of gender equality, social justice and equal participation in the current democratic transition. It is hoped that this report will serve as a reference document for the three countries and for other countries in similar stages of democratic transitions. Methodology The report begins by presenting a brief background on the situation in each of Egypt, Libya and Tunisia after the Arab Spring revolutions.
    [Show full text]
  • Cyberactivism in Egypt: a New Social Movement
    American University in Cairo AUC Knowledge Fountain Archived Theses and Dissertations 6-1-2009 Cyberactivism in Egypt: a new social movement Sherif Azer Follow this and additional works at: https://fount.aucegypt.edu/retro_etds Recommended Citation APA Citation Azer, S. (2009).Cyberactivism in Egypt: a new social movement [Thesis, the American University in Cairo]. AUC Knowledge Fountain. https://fount.aucegypt.edu/retro_etds/2338 MLA Citation Azer, Sherif. Cyberactivism in Egypt: a new social movement. 2009. American University in Cairo, Thesis. AUC Knowledge Fountain. https://fount.aucegypt.edu/retro_etds/2338 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by AUC Knowledge Fountain. It has been accepted for inclusion in Archived Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of AUC Knowledge Fountain. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The American University in Cairo School of Humanities and Social Sciences CYBERACTIVISM IN EGYPT: A NEW SOCIAL MOVEMENT A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Law in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in International Human Rights Law By Sherif Albert Azer Sewiha May 2009 1 The American University in Cairo School of Humanities and Social Sciences CYBERACTIVISM IN EGYPT: A NEW SOCIAL MOVEMENT A Thesis Submitted by Sherif Albert Azer Sewiha to the Department of Law May 2009 in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in International Human Rights Law has been approved by Professor Elna Sondergaard _______________________________ Thesis Supervisor Affiliation ____________________________________________ Date ____________________ Dr. Lama Abu-Odeh _________________________________________ Department Chair Date ____________________ Dr. Ann Lesch _________________________________________ Dean of HUSS Date ____________________ 2 DEDICATION This paper is dedicated to Professor Ali El Hadi, Vice-Provost of the American University in Cairo.
    [Show full text]