GENEVA / EGYPT- HUMAN RIGHTS

The United Nation Human Rights office (OHCHR) has expressed concerns over a draft law in Egypt, warning that it could silence civil society organisations, which will be detrimental to protection of human rights in the country. CH UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:27
• Production Date: 8 May 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: EGYPT; SWITZERLAND
• MAMS Id: U130508d

Description

STORY: GENEVA / EGYPT - HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 1:27
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH /NATS

DATELINE: 7 MAY 2013 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, Palais Wilson
2. Set up shot, Rupert Colville walking up the stairs
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson, OHCHR:
"One aspect of the constitution that has given rise to concern, particularly now, is the judiciary. Under the constitution the president has the power to appoint members of the Supreme Court in Egypt and obviously that risks severely undermining the independence of the judiciary, which of course is crucial to uphold the rule of law and to ensure that governments don’t over step their mark."
4. Wide shot, Rupert Colville walking up the stairs
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson, OHCHR:
“There is a real fear that if this law goes through in the kind of form we have seen already, it is not certain, we hope it will be improved, but that could be a really major setback for civil society. And of course with a young developing democracy, you need a strong civil society; they are a really crucial element to ensure that the authorities are passing good laws, this one being a case in point, through criticism; that is part of the democratic process that you have to expect criticism. You have to expect pressure to correct things that are going wrong. If that voice is silenced or greatly weakened, Egypt will be much worse off for it and it could even be worse than it was during the Mubarak era in terms of their ability to operate.”
6. Wide shot, Palais Wilson

Storyline

The United Nation Human Rights office (OHCHR) has expressed concerns over a draft law in Egypt, warning that it could silence civil society organizations, which will be detrimental to protection of human rights in the country.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has urged Egypt to take steps towards ensuring a transparent examination of the draft law.

The High Commissioner’s spokesperson said Egypt’s new constitution was also of concern noting that powers of the executive were excessive.

Colville said that one aspect of the constitution which particularly raised concerns was the judiciary. He said that “Under the constitution the president has the power to appoint members of the supreme court in Egypt and obviously that risks severely undermining the independence of the judiciary – which of course is crucial to uphold the rule of law and to ensure that governments don’t over step their mark."

The UN Human Rights Office further cautioned that the proposed new laws may risk crippling the country’s young democracy.

Colville said that there was “a real fear” that if those laws went through in the kind of form already seen, “that could be a really major setback for civil society.”