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Middle East and North Africa |
| Reprinted from the Middle East Studies Association Bulletin, Vol 31, No. 1, July 1997, (with changes in orthography to HTML standards). Copyright 1997 by the Middle East Studies Association of North America |
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HUMAN RIGHTS activists and scholars are finding information technology advantageous in their work. Through electronic communication activists can disseminate information widely, rapidly and inexpensively with far less labor than before. Censorship can often be circumvented. Information can be easily compiled, analyzed and managed. Action alerts can be disseminated almost instantaneously. Distances are reduced to nearly nothing. Not surprisingly, human rights resources on the Internet are increasing by leaps and bounds. There are, however, limitations for the human rights community. First, the technology and infrastructure are expensive, and many regions lag in access to the Internet. Consequently, only a small group of people have access to the Internet, though its influence is far greater than the number of users. Second, while materials in most languages can be accessed, English remains the dominant on-line language. Third, materials published on the Internet are not subject to outside review by experts in the field; anybody can post anything to the Web, and users must be aware of this. Fourth, despite hopes of unhindered communication, many governments are taking steps to control politically and culturally sensitive material. Human Rights Watch has surveyed efforts to censor the Internet; for information on Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Iran and Saudi Arabia, see http://www.netfreedom. org.au/anoid/stnmeast.htm. Human rights work relies on public opinion, on shaming the responsible parties. Professional human rights groups have duly recorded and published news of atrocities in many parts of the Middle East and North Africa and elsewhere, but often the information is simply added to the burgeoning records of international atrocities and shelved. Unless there are mass-based protest movements that can pressure governments to take action, little will change other than perhaps official rhetoric. Despite these limitations, the sources below reveal a world of human rights activity
that is scarcely covered in the mainstream media. The following listing of human rights
resources and groups concerned with human rights in the Middle East and North Africa is
current to June 1997 and subject to change at any time. The general resources Web sites
all lead to extensive human rights information, usually organized by country. In the
regional and country sections, organized groups are listed. The information given here can
be found on the cited Web sites and has been edited and, when necessary, translated.
Regional Groups and Resources Arab Region THE ARAB ORGANIZATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (AOHR) Language: English. Founded: 1 Dec 1983, Limassol, Cyprus. Affiliations: Consultative status as an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and observer status with the OAU. Purpose: To defend any individual whose human rights are subjected to violations; to seek relief and assistance for persons who are subject to coercion of any kind because of their beliefs; to protest in cases where a fair trial is not guaranteed; to provide legal assistance; to work for amnesty of persons sentenced for political reasons. Activities: Carries out field missions in an effort to release political prisoners, as an observer or as a member of the defense panel. Receives complaints from individuals, groups and organizations and contacts the concerned authorities. Provides financial assistance to families of victims. In coordination with Arab Lawyers’ Union launched a campaign for Freedom for Prisoners of Conscience in the Arab World. Conferences and seminars. Instrumental in setting up the Arab Institute for Human Rights. Funding: Members’ dues and contributions. Links to other non-governmental organizations include Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, United Nations, Refugee Council (UK). E-mail: aohr@link.com.eg ARAB WOMEN’S SOLIDARITY ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA (AWSA-NA) Language: English. Founded: 1994, Davis, CA. AWSA-NA is a branch of the
Arab Women's Solidarity Association (AWSA), which holds consultative status as an
international, non-profit, non-governmental organization with the United Nations Economic
and Social Council. Purpose: To promote knowledge regarding Arab
women’s pursuit of
equal rights. To promote and sustain a positive image of Arab culture and Arab women in
North America. To encourage the participation of Arab women in international conferences
that address human rights, including women’s rights, and other issues affecting the lives
of Arab women. Activities: Sponsored the event “Arab-African Unity: Building
Bridges Across Communities of Color,” a discussion led by community leaders Nawal
El-Saadawi and Angela Davis. Sponsored several Arab women to attend the United Nations
International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Egypt and the United
Nations Fourth International Conference on Women in Beijing. Raised funds for victims of
war and occupation. Sponsored a series of lectures and readings where Arab women writers,
scholars and community members discussed their work and current issues affecting Arab
women. Created a newsletter that includes poetry, articles and information written by or
about Arab women. E-mail: awsa@aff.org Maghrib LE MAGHREB DES DROITS DE L’HOMME (MAGHRIB OF HUMAN RIGHTS) http://www.mygale.org/06/maghreb/ Languages: French, English. Links: Association Hourriya/Liberté [Freedom Association] Association de défense des droits de l’Homme au Maroc [Association for the defense of human rights in Morocco]; United Nations Conventions; appeal for peace in Algeria; (Moroccan) National Charter of Human Rights; site for undocumented immigrants (France) Collectif Maroc-Solidarité; other human rights campaigns. E-mail: maghreb@mygale.org HOURRIYA/LIBERTE http://www.mygale.org/06/maghreb/liberte/ Purpose: To support initiatives in defense of human rights and to exchange
information on attacks against liberty in France and the Maghribi countries; to work for
the freedom of cultural and political expression and for the right of free association,
for freedom of opinion, with the exception of death threats, hate crimes and all forms of
discrimination, for the freedom to travel and the right of asylum. Activities:
Campaign for the right of return to Morocco of militant Moroccan activist Abraham Serfaty;
Committee in Solidarity with Moroccan lawyer Abderrahim Berrada. Links: To campaign
and committee work. E-mail: not listed, try maghreb@mygale.org
Countries Afghanistan Language: English. Links: Amnesty International, the United Nations, the
US State Department Human Rights Report, the International Red Cross and several books and
articles. Languages: French, English. Links: United Nations reports, US State
Department, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, interview with Houssin
Zahouan,
general secretary of the Algerian League for Defense of Human Rights (LADDH): http://ftplaw.wuacc.edu/listproc/humanrights-l/msg00125.html.
Speech delivered at the conference on human rights at the Olaf Palme Center, Stockholm,
Sweden, June 1996, by Shaykh Mahfoud Nahnah, president of the Movement of the Islamic
Society in Algeria: “Human Rights Situation in Regions Affected by Terrorism,” http://www-math.bgsu.edu/~menad/human.html.
Languages: English, Arabic. Founded: 1982, London. Purpose and Activities: To promote representative political participation and the respect of human rights in Bahrain. BFM shares the vision of reviving the rule of constitutional law in Bahrain and restoring the parliament based on the constitution that was enacted in 1973. Links: Databases, press releases, Arabic homepage. E-mail: Bahrain@compuserve.com BAHRAIN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION Languages: English, Arabic. Founded: October 1989, Denmark. Purpose: To eradicate human rights violations and to implement democracy in Bahrain, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Activities: Gathers and analyzes news and information concerning human rights violations in Bahrain. Organizes urgent actions by issuing immediate statements and contacting different bodies for intervention. Issues periodical reports about human rights abuses in Bahrain. Communicates with political and parliamentarian bodies and non-governmental organizations, informing and persuading them to intervene. Participates in international and regional conferences concerning democracy and human rights. Writes to authorities in Bahrain about individual or general cases in which the organization is concerned. Expands the organization's network of cooperators, gaining more friends and sympathizers among well-known individuals and human rights activists around the world. Participates in UNHRC sessions that take place annually in Geneva, and the Sub-Commission on Prevention and Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. Funding: Members’ contributions and supporters’ donations. Links: Facts about Bahrain, reports, communiqués, action alerts, how to take action, BHRO Web pages in Arabic. E-mail: d946801@student.iae.dtu.dk Egypt Language: English. Founded: 1994, Cairo. Purpose: To provide legal assistance and representation, free of charge, to victims of human rights violations in Egypt. Activities: Provides legal advice to victims of human rights violations; files lawsuits on behalf of victims of violations; legally represents defendants or initiates litigation; maintains a network of volunteer lawyers to pursue CHRLA cases; compiles information concerning legislation and judicial rulings that address human rights issues; files suits contesting the legality of unconstitutional legislation with the aim of bringing national legislation into line with international covenants and conventions to which Egypt is a signatory; conducts research into Egyptian law and its consistency with international human rights covenants and conventions; establishes a human rights library containing legal research on human rights and other information concerning legal rights and freedoms; works to raise individuals’ awareness of their legal rights, in particular through a series of publications: “Know Your Rights” and “What to do if ?” Links: Press releases, CHARLA annual report, the case of Dr. Nasr Hamed Abu-Zayd, activity reports, information on Egypt’s judicial system, the rights of a child. Links to related organizations: weekly news analyses covering the wider Middle East region, censored articles from the Middle East Times, US Department of State country reports on human rights practices, e-mail addresses of Egyptian human rights organizations including:
E-mail: charla@charla.org EGYPTIAN ORGANIZATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS http://www.eohr.org.eg/ Language: English. Founded: 1985. Affiliations: EOHR is the Egyptian branch of Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR) and has observer status on the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights. EOHR is also affiliated with four organizations that have consultative status with United Nations Economic and Social Council: Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR), Federation Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l'Homme (FIDH), International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and Organisation Mondiale Contre la Torture (OMCT). EOHR is also the only Middle East-based member of the Canada-based International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX). Purpose: The reform of Egyptian legislation, administrative regulations and practices in accordance with international human rights covenants and conventions, the promotion of the rule of law and of full respect for an independent judiciary, fair trials for all defendants and the abolition of military and state security courts for civilians, the promotion of women’s rights as an integral part of human rights, coordination with other Egyptian, Arab and international human rights organizations. Activities: Monitors the state of human rights and the occurrences of individual human rights abuses; issues press releases, statements and appeals to the responsible authorities on specific areas and specific cases of human rights violations; provides legal and moral support to the victims of human rights violations, particularly to prisoners of conscience; tries to mobilize public and government opinion to reform the legislative system in accord with international human rights covenants; launches comprehensive, concerted campaigns around specific areas of pervasive human rights problems in Egypt; conducts seminars and workshops; conducts systematic research into human rights questions in light of Egyptian and Arab realities and culture. Links: EOHR organizational structure, publications, current campaigns. E-mail: eohr@link.com.eg or eohr@idsc.gov.eg See also “Crisis in Egypt” for additional links to information on human
rights in Egypt http://www.egypt.org.uk/. Languages: English, Persian. Founded: May 1994, in Palo Alto, CA. Purpose: To discuss, inform, educate and campaign for the improvement of human rights in Iran and of Iranians abroad by all lawful means possible. Activities: A 90-mile walk in Britain with Amnesty International-UK against COPEX, a manufacturer and merchant of torture equipment; audio interviews with Iranian intellectuals and human rights activists. The main means of communication is electronic. Links: Oregon Chapter of the Iranian Human Rights Working Group; Iranian Refugees’ Alliance’s Web site; Amnesty International Official Web site, University of Minnesota Human Rights Library; Human Rights Gopher; Derechos Human Rights Iran page; Reporters Sans Frontieres Web page. E-mail: ihrwg@ tehran.stanford.edu IRANIAN WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION http://www.zan.org/zan.html Activities: Information about conferences and panels, some dealing with women’s human rights, at: http://www.zan.org/zan_html/up_events.html. E-mail: roya@zan.org Language: English. Founded: 1991, Washington, DC. Purpose: To expand understanding of democratic values among Iraqis through publications and other media. Activities: Symposia and conferences; publications and other media projects; research documentation and information. Links: Saddam Hussein’s Birthday Tribute, Human Rights Exposé, The Iraqi National Congress, US Department of State: Iraq Report on Human Rights Practices for 1996, The Iraqi Research and Documentation Project, United Nations Web sites, The Iraq Foundation Newsletter, Iraqi issues, library resources. E-mail:iraq@iraqfoundation.org Israel Lebanon Languages: English, French. Founded: 1987. Purpose: To create a
genuine civil society, to analyze the civil war and its aftermath, to work for
accountability of all citizens, to work for national unity, to advocate democracy and
peaceful resolution of conflicts. Activities: The foundation sponsors regional
seminars and publishes reports of the proceedings. Links: Seminar reports,
publications. E-mail: amessarra@kleudge.com
Language: French. Founded: 1984, Paris. Purpose: To inform the
public about violations of human rights and dignity in Morocco; to defend victims against
arbitrary punishment and arrest; to abrogate repressive laws and to apply effectively laws
guaranteeing freedom; to struggle against all forms of discrimination against immigrants
in France; the study, by members of the association, of judicial, economic and social
aspects of human rights theory and practice, with a focus on Morocco. Activities:
Publishes La Lettre de l'ASDHOM, an information bulletin; sends missions to
Morocco; issues human rights reports, press releases, communications with other NGOs and
human rights organizations; participates in coalitions with similar organizations. Funding:
Members’ dues, sale of publications, donations, fund-raising events (dinner-debates,
cultural evenings). E-mail: asdhom@mail.dotcom.fr
Founded: 1994. Purpose: To create within Pakistan a society that is truly
reflective of the ethos that was the spirit behind the foundation of Pakistan: the
humanistic principles of the Islamic faith of most Pakistanis and the fundamental human
rights enshrined in the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Activities:
Resource database “ZAMEER—THE CONSCIENCE OF PAKISTAN” is under construction: http://www.rpi.edu/~ashrafs/zameer.html.
The aim of the database is to provide, in one resource, information on the disperse and
varied resources that exist in the human rights field in Pakistan. E-mail: ashrafs@rpi.edu Language: English. Founded: nd, Jerusalem. Purpose and Activities: The Alternative Information Center is a joint Israeli-Palestinian center that combines information, research and critical analysis with political activism. The Educational Project for Palestinian/Israeli Grassroots Cooperation publishes two monthly magazines, in Arabic and in Hebrew, providing information and critical examination of political issues through economic, social and cultural analysis with emphasis on the radical democratic and feminist struggles in both Israeli and Palestinian societies; coordinates meetings, seminars, workshops and conferences on political and social issues within each society and between members of both societies; provides information and assistance to foreign visitors (groups and individuals) to promote solidarity work with progressive elements in Palestinian and Israeli societies. The Project for the Promotion of Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights provides information and analysis for the local and foreign public; publishes “Article 74,” a regular bulletin on residency and refugee rights; offers counseling and legal aid to Palestinian families threatened with deportation, separation and ID card confiscation; coordinates and participates in local and international campaigns on Palestinian residency and refugee issues. Sanabel, the Project for the Empowerment of Women in Hebron Area Villages, is a joint project between the women of Sa'ir village, who manage the project, and the AIC. News From Within is a monthly magazine that presents a critical discussion of the political realities created by the Oslo Accords and their implementation. Services for the Media include information, production assistance, guides, translators, meetings and interviews with different groups/individuals in Palestine and Israel. Links: Activities in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Har Homa Settlement on Abu-Gheneim Mountain, other sites of interest. E-mail: aicmail@trendline.co.il BIRZEIT UNIVERSITY HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION PROJECT (HRAP) http://www.birzeit.edu:80/hrap/ Language: English. Founded: 1977. Purpose and Activities: To follow the case of every student and staff member detained by the Israeli military authorities, as well as cases of restriction orders, house raids, deportation and denial of freedom of movement and travel as it relates to university and academic activities. Documents violations against the university itself, including army raids, closures, restrictions and discrimination. Encourages the rule of law and respect for basic standards of human rights by the Palestinian National Authority. Follows the case of every student and staff member detained by the PNA. HRAP relies on the support and work of friends of the university all over the world. HRAP periodically launches international campaigns or issues special requests for action. Links: Recent detention information, Academic Freedom First Campaign, Birzeit Human Rights Record, Birzeit human rights archive, BZU press release archive, background history, Birzeit University homepage, human rights Web sites in Palestine. E-mail: hrap@admin.birzeit.edu B'TSELEM--THE ISRAELI INFORMATION CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES http://www.btselem.org/ Language: English. Founded: 1989. Purpose: to monitor and document human rights abuses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; to provide information to the Israeli public and the international community about violations of human rights in the Occupied Territories; to recommend and encourage policy changes to ensure greater protection of human rights. Activities: B’Tselem has published over 50 reports on a wide variety of human rights issues, and has conducted advocacy campaigns to improve human rights in the territories. Funding: Donations from individuals and institutions around the world. Links: Press releases, statistics, recent publications, B’Tselem archives. E-mail: btselem@actcom.co.il AL-HAQ (JUSTICE) http://www.baraka.org/haq/ Language: English. Founded: 1979, Ramallah. Affiliations: Al-Haq is the West Bank affiliate of the Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). Purpose and Activities: To protect and promote the principles of human rights and the rule of law. To provide consultative and educational services to the Palestinian community concerning individual and collective rights. To protest to the appropriate authorities and/or request help from other organizations and individuals regarding documented human rights violations. Interventions have several purposes: (a) to inform those ultimately responsible of the actions committed under their authority, (b) where possible, to obtain official confirmation that a violation did indeed occur, (c) to challenge the legality of the action in question and, finally, (d) to see that steps are taken to prevent its recurrence. Funding: Al-Haq receives its financial support from more than 12 foundations and organizations concerned with human rights and social justice. Links: Al-Haq interventions, research, fieldwork, publications, legal services, library, database, campaigns and projects. E-mail: haq@baraka.org PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING GROUP http://www.lebnet.com/phrmg/ Language: English. Founded: 9 December 1996, Jerusalem. Purpose: To monitor the violations of the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government. Activities: Publishes the PHRMG Monitor in Arabic and English. Links: B'Tselem: The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, Birzeit Human Rights Action Project, Alternative Information Center, Worker’s Hotline. Funding: Canada Fund, European Commission, Netherlands Representative Office, Norwegian Human Rights Fund, InterAmicus, Australian Foreign Ministry, B'Tselem, Irwin Cotler, CAABU, Eyad Sarraj. E-mail: eid4hr@aquanet.co.il WOMEN’S AFFAIRS TECHNICAL COMMITTEE (WATC) Language: English. Founded: 1992, Ramallah. Purpose: Establishment
of equal rights for women in a democratic Palestinian society. Activities: Informs
women both locally and internationally about the achievements and the challenges facing
Palestinian women. Publishes two newsletters, bi-weekly supplement of Al-Ayyam
newspaper, simple language leaflets and a daily radio program. Lobbies for more
gender-sensitive laws. Through its member organizations, many of which are grass-roots
organizations, WATC campaigns with rural women for equal human rights through training
counselors. WATC has trained hundreds of women in the different Palestinian ministries,
NGOs and independent professional women. Prints T-Shirts with slogans supporting
women’s
human rights and provides training course on Human Rights Education for teachers. E-mail:
none given Languages: English, Arabic. Founded: nd, Saudi Arabia; current headquarters, London. Purpose: To elucidate the concept of human rights in Islam; to protest the Saudi regime’s massive violations of human rights; to restore the right of the people to hold their government accountable; to reform the judiciary to regain its independence. Activities: Coordinates with local, regional and international human rights organizations. Lobbies pressure groups regionally and internationally to involve them actively in the effort to improve the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia. Issues statements and publications for the purpose of educating and alerting public opinion of the human rights situation in the Kingdom and of the CDLR position; cooperates with the mass media in order to communicate with the general public; organizes and participates in symposia and conferences that discuss issues pertaining to the concept of human rights in Islam and the current situation in Saudi Arabia; establishes a welfare fund to support the detained, those dismissed from their jobs and their families. Links: CDLR communiqués, the Monitor (CDLR's on-line newletter), ash-Shar'iyya (issues in Arabic only), general information on Saudi Arabia. E-mail: 100043.1420@compuserve.com MOVEMENT FOR ISLAMIC REFORM IN ARABIA (MIRA) Languages: Arabic, English. Founded: 11 March 1996 (Arabic version, 11
April 1996), headquarters: London. Purpose: To work for freedom of expression,
freedom of assembly and the abolition of the secret police units subverting political
movements and activity in Arabia. Activities: MIRA uses all peaceful legitimate
means including information, communication and political pressure. Links: Arabia
Unveiled (MIRA’s monthly newsletter); the Monitor (in Arabic); weekly press
reviews, articles, general information on Saudi Arabia. E-mail: 100067.3633@compuserve.com Language: English. Purpose: Sudan News & Views is an
independent electronic newsletter working to advocate peace, human rights and humanitarian
aid for the Sudan. E-mail: yasin@dircon.co.uk
Languages: English, German, Dutch, Italian, French, Turkish. Purpose and Activities: To support the struggle for human rights, democracy and human dignity in Turkey; to support and protect members of the press, human-rights activists, opposition leaders and others against murder, disappearance, torture and unfair trials by means of information and public action campaigns; to inform the world about concrete cases of violations of human rights in Turkey; to support the Kurdish struggle for liberation, human dignity and socialism in Turkey. Links: Reports of human rights violations in Turkey and Turkish Kurdistan, photos and drawings of human rights abuses, student and worker protests, articles, interviews, conference announcements. E-mail: ozgurluk@xs4all.nl Amnesty International’s views on human rights in Turkey are in the statement, “Turkey: No Security Without Human Rights,” by Pierre Sané, Secretary General, Amnesty International, Istanbul, October 1, 1996, at. For AI’s campaign against human rights violations in Turkey, see http://heiwww.unige.ch/arso/index.htm#Anchor1 Languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian. Activities: Weekly news reports, background information, international campaigns, general information on Western Sahara. ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS IN WESTERN SAHARA / LES DROITS DE L'HOMME AU SAHARA OCCIDENTAL This site contains information on the “Freedom for Mohamed Daddach” campaign posted by the European Bureau for Human Rights in Western Sahara and on violations of human rights in Western Sahara, an interview with an official of the Association of Families of Disappeared and Detained Saharawis (AFAPREDESA) and individual testimonies. Links: EL KARAMA (Dignity), published by the Bureau of Human Rights of the European Coordination of Support for the Sahrawis and AFAPREDESA Association of Families of Prisoners and Disappeared Sahrawi People, European campaign for the adoption of disappeared Sahrawis, US State Department Human Rights Country Reports, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Committee of the Red Cross. E-mail: arso@hei.unige.ch |
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