The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
PRESS
RELEASE
On occasion of the 50th celebration of the |
10 December 1998
The 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) carries with it much pessimism and little optimism with respect to the situation of human rights in the world. In Egypt, we are celebrating this solemn event amidst a climate in which one finds no reason for optimism. The human rights movement in general, and the EOHR in particular, are being exposed to a fierce and organized campaign of attacks that aim to silence the voices defending human rights. However, those working in the human rights field have to hold on to the will to be optimistic. Let the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration be an occasion for fostering the will for optimism, cooperation and solidarity between all those concerned with human rights everywhere. The recent crisis faced by the EOHR has highlighted, however, positive aspects that should not be neglected or overlooked. Perhaps the main among these has been the solidarity mechanism which responded swiftly and full of vitality. From the very first moment, all human rights defenders in Egypt and many around the world started moving to defend the existence of the EOHR. This solidarity mechanism is still spontaneous and alive at a time when everything seems liable to division and disunity. It is within this climate of crisis still looming over the future of the human rights movement in Egypt, and on occasion of the 50th anniversary of the UDHR, that the EOHR issues Solidarity, a newsletter that aims to highlight the many expressions of solidarity received by the organization and reaffirm its will to remain optimistic, a feeling that was nourished by those expressions which, amidst the darkness of the crisis, revealed a light at the end of the tunnel in the struggle towards a better future. Lets us unite in solidarity for: The protection of human rights defenders; The building of a strong and democratic civil society; A new association law that would express the demands and ambitions of civil society; The implementation of the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; A world where the values of freedom, equality, justice and human rights prevail.
