NORTHERN AFRICA

CAIRO INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS STUDIES

cihrs

Algeria | Egypt | Libya | Morocco | Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Sudan | Tunisia

Founded in 1993, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) is an independent regional non-governmental organisation which aims to promote respect for the principles of human rights and democracy in the Arab region. For this purpose, CIHRS focuses on analyzing the difficulties facing the application of international human rights law, disseminating a culture of respect for human rights in the region, and engaging in dialogue between cultures regarding the various international human rights treaties and declarations. CIHRS further seeks to attain this objective by developing, proposing, and promoting changes to policy and practice in the Arab region in order to bring them in line with international human rights standards.

In addition, CIHRS conducts human rights advocacy with national, regional, and international human rights mechanisms, carries out research, and provides human rights education, both for youth and for established human rights defenders seeking ongoing professional development. CIHRS is a major publisher of information related to human rights in the Arab region, and its publications include a magazine, an academic quarterly, and scores of books dealing with various human rights-related issues.

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LATEST UPDATES

11
Apr
2022

Egypt: Atrocious prison conditions require genuine rather than superficial changes to the law regulating prisons

Source: Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies Egypt’s parliament approved the amendment of several provisions of Law no. 369 of 1956 on the regulation of prisons and it was ratified by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on 20  March. These amendments encompass changes to the following
28
Feb
2022

Egypt: Government must immediately close Case 173 and end assault on human rights organisations and defenders

The undersigned human rights organizations denounce the Egyptian government’s failure to close Case no. 173 of 2011, commonly known as the “NGO Foreign Funding Case”, which has now been ongoing for over a decade despite the sporadic issuance of decisions to suspend investigations or lift
07
Feb
2022

Egypt: Authorities must repeal the outrageous NGO law

In light of these concerning developments and Egypt's long standing and well documented pattern of reprisals against human rights defenders, urgent action is required to avert the Egyptian government's attempts to annihilate the human rights movement in the country.
21
Jun
2021

Ethiopia: United Nations urged to take action on human rights crisis in Tigray

On 10 June, twelve regional and international human rights organizations, including AfricanDefenders sent a joint letter to representatives of member states and observer states in the United Nations Human Rights Council, urging them to adopt a resolution at the upcoming 47th session of the Council
21
Jun
2021

Algeria: Criminalisation of Fundamental Freedoms Requires Urgent Response

In response to the Algerian government’s crackdown on opposition and independent forces in the country, AfricanDefenders,the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, in cooperation with 80 Algerian, regional and international human rights organisations, sent a letter to the member states of the United Nations Human
20
Jun
2021

Algeria: UN member states must pressure Algerian government to end crackdown on fundamental freedoms

On Friday 18 June 2021, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) hosted a side event to the 47th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, titled “Democracy Denied: The relentless criminalisation of fundamental freedoms warrants an urgent response.” The side event was