The Reviews of "new generation" on the sidelines of the session 11 of the Human Rights Council

Arab civil society ... Reform vision

04/06/2009

Newspapers on the morning of June 3, 2009 in Cairo highlights the remarks of officials of the Ministry of Social Solidarity on non-governmental organizations which we understood only a lot of doubts on the usefulness of these organizations and the intention to further restrictions on its work and the development of new restrictions to paralyze its movements, ironically that the eleventh session of the Human Rights Council held at the same time in the Swiss capital, Geneva for approximately 3 weeks, with amid presence of non-governmental organizations and it is an appreciation for its vital role in the development process and promotion of human rights in their countries.

Because we in "Maat" believe in absolute truth, which says that education is an ongoing process that does not end until the end of the life of the individual we also believe that good training is which is close to the event and takes from it and adds to it, and, of course, has no value to learn the trainees unless they use it in their application and take advantage of it to achieve something in these communities and criticism and reform of the bad conditions.

Hence came the participation in the training program on international human rights mechanisms, and that within the new generation program activities to activists which organized by (Freedom House) in partnership with the Geneva Institute for Human Rights.

These training activities came on the sidelines of the eleventh session of the Council of the United Nations human rights which is being held in Geneva during the period of 1 to 19 June, 2009, and based on participation and fellowship of the international mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights through attending meetings and the holding of meetings and visits to the existing UN bodies in Geneva.

The participation in the activities of Geneva and the follow-up to what is happening in Cairo, have made us to watch for the apparent discrepancy between the reality of civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations on the international agenda and the national agenda, while the UN body the most important and primarily responsible for the dignity and human rights in every corner of this world place those organizations in a position parallel to the position of governments and the position that must be given to the reports and statements and comments made by these organizations through their representatives, find that at the national level is still far from those entities in the system integration into the overall development as the full.

Furthermore, many of the national non-governmental organizations in the Arab region in general, including Egypt, are still relatively far from the area of influence and the strong presence in the international mechanisms for the promotion and protection of human rights this is in our estimation due to errors which the government parties and non-governmental falls in it.

If the governmental party had not yet arrived in the full conviction the need to strengthen the role of non-governmental organizations, particularly in the field of human rights despite the legal and formal recognition of it, this is highlighted in the form of some administrative procedures that impede their work, Non-governmental organizations and human rights are not still on the stage of screaming and shaming and stigmatization the vision of reform and development agenda put forward practical solutions is still far from the concerns of most of them, it also seems that they rest from the state of cutting bridges of dialogue with the government and consider that as an indicator of achievement in their work.

All of these conditions have led to the low participation of Arab human rights organizations in general and especially the Egyptian in international events on human rights, thus, the low representation in the forums and regular meetings of the Human Rights Council, this is certainly damages not only human rights organizations and non-governmental organizations but also the human rights situation in the whole Arab world.

Non-governmental organizations derive their legitimacy at the international level and their representation in the UN-governmental mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights to a number of arrangements, First, as stated in resolution 60/251 on the establishment of the Human Rights Council as a UN independent human rights department instead of the commission on Human Rights in the Economic and Social Council, as stated in the resolution, according to the recognition of the role played by non-governmental organizations in the protection and promotion of human rights it also stressed the adoption of the same mechanisms that are followed in the Economic and Social Council on this matter.

As well as the legitimacy of non-governmental organizations based on Economic and Social Council resolution 31 of 1996 dated July 25, 1996, the Council depends in its mechanisms to grants from consultative status to a number of non-governmental organizations in various countries and allow them to participate as observers in the various activities, and more than 1500 organizations has such privilege.

The Human Rights Council adopted this mechanism after its independence and provided to organizations that have consultative status to participate as an observer in its activities, rather, it allowed for other organizations which do not have this privilege to participate in its activities and meetings and assist in the activation of different mechanisms nationally and internationally.

According to the speech of the Secretary-General of the United Nations before the Human Rights Council in June 19, 2006" Non-governmental organizations play an important role in promoting and protecting human rights at the national, regional and international. This is why the General Assembly to benefit from the practices of the Commission to ensure the availability of space for non-governmental organizations to contribute to your work the most effective manner, as well as non-member States of the Council, and relevant agencies, and other intergovernmental organizations, national institutions on human rights".

The contribution of non-governmental actor and constructive throughout the life of the Human Rights Council which had been born out in March 2006, where, for example, participated in the seventh regular session of the Council in March 2008  180 non-governmental organization with the presence of 1116 person, these organizations have made 98 written statement, and 224 oral statement, these organizations also hosted 69 happened on the sidelines of the meetings of the Board.

Human Rights Council is keen to include non-governmental organizations and opening the roads to make an effective contribution mechanisms, the Advisory Committee for the Council is keen for example, to build links with non-governmental organizations, it also allows these organizations to lodge complaints and written reports to the Council, and the effective contribution of the committees for human rights treaties and cooperation with the country task forces and the mandate-holders in this regard.

There is no doubt that the participation will allow us to realize the extent recognized and supported by the world and its largest government to the civil society organizations, and to what extent are national governments in this path or not, if they are applying the same standards and exercise the same rules in dealing with these organizations, which obtained international recognition in recognition of its vital role in the development and promotion of human rights, now, the facts are unfolding before us and are aware of the size of the gap between the positions of the United Nations and national non-governmental organizations.

All of that – as a governmental and non-governmental organizations - to re-examine the current situation of our non-governmental organizations especially human rights and the adoption of a reformist agenda towards them so as to enhance its presence on the international level and increase the capabilities in the protection and promotion of human rights, on the other and to follow the model in encouraging them to contribute actively to the reform agenda and national development.

This requires the amendment of legislation governing civil society, and the removal of administrative and financial obstacles that stood in their way, it also requires that NGOs be compatible with the circumstances of the stage through the world human rights with regard, Human rights moved from the stage of defamation to the stage of the reform, and from the circular non-documented commitment to scientific method in the monitoring and documentation.

Also the raise of issues of human rights is no longer isolated from the issues of sustainable development with all the connotations of the word and its positive and constructive implications away from being negative , and not to think positively in the importance of the social dialogue with the governments.

The near coexistence of these huge UN events gives an opportunity may not have much to perform reviews in the life of the human rights organization in the work of any human rights activist because it guarantee the continuity of the organization in achieving its goals and serve society, and the continuing activist on the fervor and faith of his case on the one hand, and possession of tools that would enable it to succeed in his mission of humanitarian and national, on the other, then we in "Maat" became as an eye in Geneva and the other in Cairo so that we can employ all of this in the service of the Egyptian human rights movement and access to the full consensus between the rules of the International Bill of Human Rights and the texts of international covenants and conventions on a hand, and practices in Egypt, on the other.

Finally, we emphasize that the Arab civil society and the Egyptian deserves to be actor at the international level, but it must be present and active at this level in the service of Arab causes, which filled the corridors of UN organizations, as well as to consolidate the position of governments and the strengthening of its presence at the international level and narrow the gap between the two reports to the relevant international organizations, also the civilian presence in the mechanisms of the international system provides us with an opportunity to influence the UN resolution to become more responsive to the demands of our peoples and the development needs.