As a Result of a Direct Threat to their Work: Egyptian Human Rights Organizations Have Decided Not to Participate in Egypt’s UPR before the UN
The review of Egypt’s human rights record over the past four years will begin this week as part of the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review in Geneva.
From Civil Society Groups to the UN: 100 Recommendations for the Egyptian Government on 12 Rights Issues Involving Violations in Law and Practice
The Universal Periodic Review of member states’ rights records before the UN Human Rights Council ends with the state under review announcing a commitment to a set of recommendations to improve the status of human rights and meet the demands of its citizens.
Ongoing Violations Against Residents Of Hod al-Musallas In Muntazah
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights is deeply concerned about an imminent social catastrophe that could displace some 5,000 families out of their homes in rural Muntazah, located in the Alexandria governorate, following action taken by the Endowment Authority to expel them from agricultural land in their possession and convert the land into real estate investment projects.
19 Rights Organizations Declare: A Dramatic Deterioration in the Status of Human Rights in Egypt over the Past Four Years
In preparation for Egypt’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) before the UN, scheduled for November 5, the Forum of Independent Egyptian Human Rights Organizations (the Forum), comprised of 19 organizations, published a joint report on the status of human rights in Egypt over the past four years. The report was sent to the UN Human Rights Council in March, the deadline for the submission of governmental and independent reports to be discussed during the UPR.
IFC Environmental and Social Standards are Meaningless in Practice
Located in Wadi al-Qamar in western Alexandria, Titan Cement, established in 1948, is financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The IFC is a member of the World Bank Group, which specializes in private-sector finance.
Health Insurance on Farmers Day is a Partial Step in the Wrong Direction
In a sudden move by the state to mark Farmers Day, a law was issued by presidential decree number 127 for 2014 to institute health insurance for farmers who have no insurance protection under any other law.
Social Dialogue is the Most Effective Mean to Solve Economic and Social Challenges
Prior to the revolution of January 25, Egypt was in a state of increasing political and social distress. Though this spurred ever more frequent economic, social, and political strikes and demonstrations, the state made no serious attempt to address the issue.
Victims of Corruption and Human Rights Violations are the Rightful Heirs of our Recovered Assets
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights released a research paper Monday titled, “How to Use Our Looted Assets: Best Policies for Managing Recovered Assets.” The objective is to multiply the social and economic benefits of these assets in a way that achieves a measure of justice for those groups most harmed by the corruption.
EIPR: Educational Curricula Reflect Hyper-Nationalism and Lack Respect for Diversity
The Ministry of Education has recently announced a change in the curricula of at least 30 text books according to news reports. The changes included textbooks of history and national instruction, and reportedly involved the inclusion of the state’s narrative of the political changes since 2011.
Start of Social Dialog sessions on Comprehensive Health Insurance Bill with Participation of EIPR
Minister of Health Adel al-Adwi inaugurated the first meeting for social dialog on the comprehensive health insurance bill and its application mechanisms on Tuesday, 5 August 2014 at the headquarters of the Specialized National Councils. In attendance were Dr. Ibrahim Badran, the former health minister and president of the health committee in the Specialized National Councils, Dr.
EIPR: Electricity price hikes are prejudicial to the poor
In a Cabinet press conference on 5 July, Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb declared: “How can I achieve social justice when I’m subsidizing the rich at the expense of the poor?
EIPR: Total Failure of the Government’s Housing Policy to Guarantee Citizens’ Right to Adequate Housing Revealed in Budget Analysis for FY2014/2015
The Egyptian government has failed to adopt policies to support the poor’s right to adequate housing as per Article 78 of the Egyptian constitution, an analysis of FY 2014/2015’s budget has revealed.
EIPR: Just and comprehensive housing policy needed
Egypt has wasted billions from public funds over the last four decades building housing for those it has dubbed as "low-income" families through a policy that never managed to reach its target beneficiaries: those who live in inadequate housing.
Prime Minister's Decree to provide emergency medical care free of charge - A decree with no mechanisms or regulations
The undersigned organizations have followed the Prime Minister’s decree No. 1063 for the year 2014, issued last month, which obligates all hospitals, public or private, to provide emergency and trauma patients with free treatment for up to 48 hours. The cost of such an arrangement, according to the decree, is covered from the budget allocated to state-funded patient treatment.
Reducing the Budget Deficit without Effective Social Safety Nets is Unfair to the Poor
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights warned Sunday against the consequences of focusing on decreasing the budget deficit on the expense of ensuring social justice –a pattern that shows from the fiscal statement of the public budget of 2014-2015.
Proposed Government Law Makes NGOs Subordinate to Security and Ministry Control
The undersigned rights organizations express their deep concern regarding the Ministry of Social Solidarity’s latest draft of the bill regulating non-governmental organizations, and declare it a flagrant breach of the constitution and Egypt’s international obligations. The law, if adopted, will criminalize the operation of NGOs and subordinate them to the security establishment, shutting down the public sphere in Egypt to all but regime supporters.
Rights groups take part in talks with World Bank on Egypt’s Country Partnership Framework 2015–2019
The undersigned civil society organizations took part in consultative talks held by the World Bank with various parties in Egypt, as it seeks to solicit opinions on Egypt’s Country Partnership Framework for 2015–19, which governs the Bank’s policies Egypt.
EIPR issues new study on economic growth and poverty in Egypt, 2001–2013: From accelerated growth accompanied by increasing poverty to sluggish growth with effects borne by the poor
*A development policy that does not prioritize combating poverty will fail in the long- run
*GDP growth is not an indication of declining poverty rates
Why do buildings collapse in Egypt?
EIPR launches preliminary findings on the building collapse phenomena through interactive website
To Anchor the Rule of law - 10 Demands on the Next President Concerning Human Rights
The undersigned organizations reiterated today that bringing political stability to Egypt requires the coming president to adopt a political and economic program that makes it a priority to restore and support the rule of law in a state that respects human rights and public liberties.
