The Egyptian government paves the way for Further restrictions imposed on the Civil Society

Civil Society Organizations signatory of this statement express their extreme uneasiness about the rumors constantly disseminated by the Ministry of Social Solidarity to the press about new amendments to the law regulating Egyptian NGOs while the organizations primarily concerned by this law are totally turned down from the whole process. Moreover, official authorities are ignoring any efforts developed by CSOs aiming at promoting a legislation compatible with the international standards of the freedom of association, such as the draft law developed by a group of NGOs that was widely adopted after months of debates and positive discussions including activists, parliamentarians with the participation of a representative of the Ministry of Social Solidarity especially invited to transmit the vision proposed by the Civil Society to the official authorities.

However, the Ministry is showing evident signs of carefree attitude reflected by a full blackout about the draft law proposed by NGOs and the announcement that a committee was established to draft the amendments adopted at the official level; it is worth mentioning that this committee does not include any representation of the Civil Society, especially human rights organizations.

The attitude of the Ministry and its attempts to pass on the law under the false pretext that its draft was developed through a participatory approach including NGOs while the entire process took place in a secret manner is totally unacceptable. Moreover, the Ministry is seeking to add legitimacy to its actions by involving the General Union of NGOs – which is a semi-governmental body – in the decisions related to the dissolution of Civil Society Organizations as it appears by the news released to the press lately.

Signatory NGOs confirm that the law won”t gain such legitimacy without an effective participation of all the concerned parties, including the inclusion of the draft law proposed by NGOs on the agenda of the discussion, as one of the alternatives to the present Law 84/2002.

Furthermore, if the Ministry of Social Solidarity perseveres in its attitude showing animosity towards the Civil Society, signatory organizations will take the necessary legal procedures in order to counteract any governmental attempts to consecrate the repression of NGOs” activities and grants the administration additional powers threatening the integrity of these organizations.

Signatory organizations :-

1. Andalus institute for tolerance and inti- violence studies
   
2. Arabic network for human rights information
   
3. arabs center of democraty and human rights
   
4. Association for freedom of though and expression
   
5. Cairo institute for human rights studies
   
6. Civil Observatory for Human Rights
   
7. Communication Centre for development
   
8. Community development of democracy
   
9. Egyptian Center for Child Rights
   
10. Egyptian Centre for Development and Democratic Studies
    
11. Egyptian initiative for personal rights
    
12. Elhak Center For democracy and human rights
    
13. Forum for development and human rights dialogue
    
14. Habi Center for Environmental Rights
    
15. Hisham Mubarak legal Center
    
16. Land center for human rights
    
17. Nadim Center for Psychological Treatment and Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence
    
18. New women foundation.
    
19. The Arab Center for Development and Human Rights
    
20. The Arab Organization for Penal Reform
    
21. The Arab Organization for support the civil society and human rights
    
22. The Arab program for human rights
    
23. The association for human rights legal aid
    
24. The Association of Defenders of Justice for Human Rights
    
25. The Association of Researchers in Egyptian Universities and Centers
    
26. the center for trade union and workers services
    
27. The Egyptian Association against Torture
    
28. The Egyptian association for community participation enhancement
    
29. The Egyptian Association for sustainable participation development
    
30. The Egyptian Center for Development and Studies on Democracy
    
31. The Egyptian center for human rights
    
32. The Egyptian Society for development democratic
    
33. The group for human rights legal aid
    
34. The Human Rights Association for Support of Prisoners
    
35. The South Center for Human Rights
    
36. One World Foundation for Development and Civil Society Support