Tactics and tools for the protection
of Human Rights Defenders

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that the Egyptian Government has prevented the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) from taking part in a United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS, due to take place on 10-11 June 2008. The EIPR was founded in 2002 to protect and promote human rights in Egypt.

Further Information

On 10 and 11 June 2008, members of the EIPR were due to attend a UN high-level meeting in New York on HIV/AIDS but have been barred from doing so by the Egyptian Government, which vetoed the participation of EIPR in December 2007. The meeting is being held to review progress on the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. In June 2006, the EIPR took part in the last meeting of this kind. Seventeen human rights groups have objected to the Egyptian Government’s barring of the EIPR’s participation on the grounds that it represents illegal restrictions of the rights to freedom of association and expression.

Recently, there have been other restrictions imposed on the activities human rights organisations in Egypt. According to reports, the Egyptian Government intends to close down the Egyptian Awn (Aid) Association on the basis of its lack of funds, despite the fact that the organisation is run on a voluntary basis. The Egyptian Government has also failed to implement a court ruling that ordered the registration of the Centre for Trade Unions and Workers’ Services. Security agencies have prevented conferences organised by other human rights organisations in Egypt from taking place. Front Line has previously written to you in relation to an attack against Dr Magda Adly of the El Nadim Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Victims of Violence on 30 April 2008, for which a thorough investigation has yet to be undertaken.

Front Line believes that the EIPR has been prevented from taking part in the UN General Assembly meeting as a result of its work in the defence of human rights, in particular its work in relation to HIV/AIDS. Front Line is concerned that this forms part of an ongoing trend of harassment against human rights organisations and defenders in Egypt.