CRES/001/10/2013  – EGYPT

We, the participants of the NGO Forum preceding the 54^th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and the 28^th African Human Rights Book Fair held from 18^th – 20^th October, 2013 in Banjul, The Gambia

 Recalling the human rights violations committed during the one-year rule of deposed President Mohamed Morsi, which included broad assaults against freedom of expression and the independence of the judiciary, excessive use of force by security forces against peaceful protesters, torture and ill-treatment in police stations, and the overall ongoing impunity for human rights violations;

Recalling the removal of President Mohamed Morsi from power, the suspension of the constitution in July 2013, and the reinstatement of emergency law by the interim authorities;

Concerned by the excessive use of force against supporters of the deposed President Mohamed Morsi on July 8 at the Presidential Guard which left at least 51 people dead and 400 injured;

Noting that interim President Adly Mansour established a judicial investigation commission into the deadly events;

Concerned by the excessive use of force by state forces during the dispersal of sit-ins held in support of deposed President Mohamed Morsi on August 14 in Raba’a and al-Nahda Squares, which led to hundreds of deaths;

Concerned by the ongoing violence between opponents and supporters of the deposed President Mohamed Morsi which has left more than 1000 people dead since August 14, 2013;

Concerned by the increasing level of sexual violence against female protesters over the past two years, including at least 181 cases of rape and sexual assault documented over the period between June 30 and July 3, 2013;

Concerned by the incitement to violence and hate speech used by some political leaders and media outlets;

Concerned by the mass arrests and the continued arbitrary detention of several hundreds of people suspected of being members or supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood;

Alarmed by the crackdown against media outlets known for their support of former President Mohamed Morsi and by the increasing violence against journalists and media practitioners, which has left at least 2 dead between August 14 and August 18, 2013;

Recalling the ACHPR resolutions 179 (2011) and 240 (2013) on the human rights situation in the Arab Republic of Egypt;

Requests the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to adopt a resolution calling on the Egyptian transition authorities to:

• Unconditionally respect and uphold the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and other international human rights standards, including the right to peaceful demonstration and assembly, the right to liberty and personal safety, the right to physical and mental integrity, and the right to a fair trial;
• Conduct impartial and independent investigations into all human rights violations to ensure that all perpetrators are held accountable, and include independent human rights experts and impartial and independent judicial figures in the investigative committees;
• Refrain from disproportionate use of force against demonstrators whilst fully complying with international standards on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials;
• Fulfill the state’s responsibility to protect civilians regardless of their political affiliation, more particularly women targeted with violence or harassment during protests;
• Uphold the right to a fair trial before an independent court of law and put an end to arbitrary arrests and detentions and to the use of exceptional courts, including military trials for civilians;
• End abusive practices against freedom of expression, and if there are reasonable grounds to believe that incitement to violence has occurred, order investigations rather than taking exceptional measures such as closing media outlets by executive orders;
• Refrain from incitement to violence or hatred and condemn such speech or acts;
• Ratify the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance;
• Ensure that any legislation governing the exercise of fundamental human rights fully complies with the relevant regional and international standards;
• Authorize the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights to carry out a promotion mission on the situation of human rights in Egypt, in particular with its Special Rapporteurs on the Rights of Women in Africa, on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, and on Human Rights Defenders.

Done in Banjul, The Gambia on 20^th October, 2013