The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies hosted a meeting this morning between the Forum of Independent Human Rights Organizations, an umbrella group of 16 Egyptian organizations, and representatives from 19 states. The meeting was held to discuss the Government’s proposed amendments to the NGO law that make it even more repressive than the original.
The meeting lasted nearly an hour and a half and included presentations on and discussion of the proposed bill which was published recently in newspapers. The new law, designed to replace the current law on Associations (law 84 of 2002), would grant the Egyptian government broader powers for the suppression of civil society organizations throughout the country.
Attendees also discussed the interventionist practices of the Ministry of Social Solidarity and security agencies in the activities of civil society organizations in contravention of the current NGO law.
The meeting was attended by diplomats from the European Union, Australia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Brazil, Britain, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Zambia, France, Finland, Canada, Austria, the Netherlands, the US, and Japan.
Please note that Dr. Moufeed Shehab, the Minister of State for Legal Affairs and Parliamentary Councils, will meet with the Forum of Independent Human Rights Organizations on Thursday.
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