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Human Rights Watch
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
Press Conference: "Unleashing the Potential of Civil Society"
Critical Analysis of the new associations' law
29/6/2005
Human Rights Watch (HRW), in association with the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) are holding a joint press conference critically analysing the new associations' law 84 of 2002. The press conference will be held at EOHR headquarters on the 4th July 2005 at 12:00 p.m. Sarah Leah Whitson and Joe Stork, HRW's executive director and deputy director for the Middle East, and EOHR Secretary General Hafez Abu Seada,.
During the press conference, HRW will make public its report entitled "Egypt: Margins of Repression, State Limits on NGO Activism" which highlights the repercussions of Associations' Law 84 [2002] on NGO activism in Egypt, the restrictive environment under which these organisations operate as well as how they manoeuvre around it. The report is concluded by a set of recommendations presented by HRW to the Egyptian government.
EOHR will also launch a report entitled "Critical Analysis of the New Associations' Law" which highlights the environment in which the law was passed and its negative impacts, especially its ability to restrict the activism of NGOs by broadening the scope of activity prohibition and giving more authority to restrict the founding, funding, administration and dissolving of NGOs.
The Law also restricts the authorities of NGOs' board of directors and general assemblies and grants the authorities greater powers to interfere in the internal affairs of these organisations as well as placing restrictions on voluntary work.
EOHR's report also lists a group of associations and civil society organisations that were not allowed to officially register by the Ministry of Social Affairs and those dissolved by the aforementioned ministry, between 2003 and 2004, and highlights the other organisations that have been registered both according to the law or by force of a judicial verdict. The report is concluded by EOHR's recommendations and its request that the potential of the Egyptian civil society be unleashed through new legislation that respects the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution and international instruments.
It also puts forward recommendations to governmental and administrative bodies emphasising the role of civil society as a partner in democratic reform and development.
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