CIHRS adds voice to leading Darfur groups in pressing for peacekeeper deployment
Fifteen African and European human rights advocacy organizations from ten countries, including CIHRS, joined a call for world leaders to not attend the Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies in August, unless the UNAMID peacekeeping force is effectively protecting civilians in Darfur by that time. Last month, U.S. activists issued this call, denouncing China’s continued enabling of Sudan’s destructive campaign against Darfuri civilians.

The signature of the Egyptian government of the EU-Egypt European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan was supposed to contribute towards concrete steps being taken towards fostering democracy and human rights in Egypt; however, the situation on the ground in 2007 – the year in which the Action Plan was approved – witnessed further retrogression that was noted in the European Parliament resolution of January 2008. The resolution described 2007 as a year of dramatic deterioration of human rights in Egypt. This deterioration can be seen in the sharp reaction of the Egyptian authorities that reached the extent of considering the resolution adopted by the European Parliament as an intervention in Egypt's internal affairs effecting its sovereignty.

The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies CIHRS and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights EIPR have jointly made an oral intervention before the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The intervention made by Mr. Hossam Bahgat, Director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights referred to the controversy stemming from some forms of expression which are found to be offensive to the religious feelings or beliefs of others. In this context, Mr. Bahgat expressed condemnation of incidents of "deliberate stereotyping and stigmatization" of certain minorities or groups, which lead to the incitement of discrimination, hostility or violence against them. These incidents" Mr. Bahgat asserted, "are not conducive to the creation of truly pluralist, divers, tolerant and inclusive societies". However, the intervention also expressed great concern regarding the growing trend by governments to capitalize on “contempt of religions” to impose further restrictions on freedom of expression

Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), called upon the international community to exert effective efforts to urge Arab governments to duly reconsider their legislation, policy and practices contravening their international obligations to protect freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and freedom to form associations, including non-governmental organizations.
In its report before the Sseventh Ssession of the UN Human Rights Council, which began on Monday March 3rd 2008, CIHRS stressed that special attention should be awarded to providing protection to human rights defenders in the Arab World.

Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), called upon the international community to exert effective efforts to urge Arab governments to duly reconsider their legislation, policy and practices contravening their international obligations to protect freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and freedom to form associations, including non-governmental organizations.
In its report before the Sseventh Ssession of the UN Human Rights Council, which began on Monday March 3rd 2008, CIHRS stressed that special attention should be awarded to providing protection to human rights defenders in the Arab World.

40 civil society organisations from around the world, the majority from member states of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference call on the Human Rights Council to protect the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and to reject the amendment to the mandate proposed by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), called upon the international community to exert effective efforts to urge Arab governments to duly reconsider their legislation, policy and
practices contravening their international obligations to protect freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and freedom to form associations, including non-governmental organizations.
In its report before the Sseventh Ssession of the UN Human Rights Council, which began on Monday March 3rd 2008, CIHRS stressed that special attention should be awarded to providing protection to human rights defenders in the Arab World.

The undersigned human rights organizations confirmed their total rejection of the document of "organizing space & radio broadcasting" which was declared by Arab ministers of information on February 12, 2008. Human rights organizations said that the suggested document which contains 12 articles, is full of ambiguous statements that impose new restrictions on freedom of expression on the Arab space channels and it is worthless without the affirmation of the Arabian parliaments.

(New York, February 26, 2008) – Arab governments should publicly reject those elements of a proposed regional policy on satellite television broadcasting that would seriously restrict freedom of expression and information, Human Rights Watch said today.

As a diverse group of African human rights and civil society organizations, we look forward to a productive upcoming African presidency of the UN Human Rights Council in 2008-2009. In light both of the key position held by the African Group at the Council and of Africa’s recent progressive steps on human rights through the adoption of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, we believe it is particularly important that Africa is represented in this role by a recognized human rights leader from our continent.