CIHRS and 4 Sub-Regional African networks raise civil society’s concerns with US Government

Photo: whitehouse.gov

The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies has recently concluded a mission to Washington DC to advocate for consideration of civil society concerns in the upcoming US African Leaders Summit scheduled for August 4th – 6th. The summit is organized by the US administration to strengthen ties with continent. CIHRS also called on US officials preparing for the summit to addressing human rights violations on the agenda for the summit.

The Mission comprised of regional representatives from the Pan African Human Rights Defenders Network in collaboration with The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project including: John Foley from East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project;Arnold Tsungafrom the Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network; Maximillienne Ngo Mbefrom Central Africa Human Rights Defenders Network; and Imam Baba Leigh, Human Rights Defender. As well as prominent North African Human Rights Defender including: AbdelazizNouydi, Former President of Justice Foundation[ from Morocco; NasseraDutour, President of Collective of Families of the Disappeared in Algeria; KamelLabidi, Human Rights Defender, from Tunisia, Elham Saudi, Director of LFJL, from Libya; and ZiadAbdeltawab, Deputy Director of CIHRS, from Egypt.

The delegations met with officials at the US State Department, the Whitehouse, and leading human rights NGOs and think tanks[ . The mission include a panels discussion on the importance of civil society engagement in the US African leaders Summit hosted by Human Rights First, and human rights concerns from across North African hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.