Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

27 April 2011



Over decades and during the long past years, civil society organizations have fought for the freedom of association and defended rights and freedoms of the Egyptian people with all its sectors and political and intellectual currents. However, they did not rule one out and respected all views. Besides, they have openly criticized governments and the unfair laws and legislations without fear or shame. They have also developed and formulated by experts several draft laws that respect human rights. They have fought corruption, sued officials to reveal their corruption and fought oppression imposed by governments on them by the law No. 32 of 1964, and fought against the law No. 153 for the year 1999 and the current law No. 84 of 2002 which governs the work of NGOs.

Despite of all mentioned, we were surprised by the total disregard of those involved in the ruling of the country after the revolution of January 25, 2011, whether in the so-called national dialogue or in the decrees issued on the amendments of some laws and regulations that besiege and hinder freedoms of opinion, expression and assembly.


In the light of the important and pivotal role of civil society associations in cementing values of dialogue and raising awareness of the principles of democracy and citizenship, tolerance and acceptance of others, fighting against corruption and alleviating suffering of citizens, and in light of the partnership of civil society with the State in the process of development that Egypt currently needs more than ever, the Arab Program for Human Rights Activists decided to launch and organize an extended national campaign to repeal the law No. 84 of 2002 relevant to the right of the establishment of NGOs so as to lift restrictions imposed on civil work through it and the work to pass a new law that set forth the establishment of NGOs by notification and the resolution by judicial decree and not a decision from the Minister of Social Solidarity and the end of security intervention in the affairs of civil associations so as to ensure freedom of association and the democracy of civil work with taking into consideration the submission of the budget of NGOs to the supervision of the Central Auditing Agency.

The campaign consists of a number of axes, as follows:

 * Number of consultative workshops with all civil society institutions for the consultation on standards of civil work to be included in the new law.
 * Meetings with the Supreme Council of Armed Forces and the Prime Minister and Minister of Social Solidarity.
 * Letters and petition to exert pressure to change the law No. 84 of 2002.
 * Peaceful and solidarity marches to the cabinet without disruption of work or public interest.
 * Axes that are agreed upon in the consultative workshops.