by Mary Wolverton, Director, IANGEL
(New York, USA) I recently had the privilege of attending the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women conference in New York. The sessions were both exciting and thought-provoking. One subject was especially disturbing and I want to share it with you and your members.
Mozn Hassan, founder and director of Nazra for Feminist Studies (www.nazra.org), has been charged in Egypt’s Foreign Funding case. Hassan, winner of the Global Fund for Women’s 2013 Charlotte Bunch Human Rights Defender Award, is a victim of a recent crackdown on human rights in Egypt.
The Foreign Funding case was brought by the government in response to the 2011 uprising. In this case human rights NGOs are accused of taking foreign funds for the purpose of destabilizing the country. NGO staff and directors are subject to travel bans and freezing of personal assets. The court imposed a media ban on the investigation.
This action has extended to restrictions on women’s shelters and women’s rights organizations are specifically targeted. This escalating threat to human rights was discussed at the UN CSW meeting in the hope that international scrutiny will be brought to bear on the government.
IANGEL applauds the courage and resilience of the women of Nazra and stands with them in opposition to this attack on human rights. We urge every women’s bar organization to join us.
*UPDATE OCT 6, 2016 – http://www.iangel.org/update-mozn-hassan/
IANGEL stands with Mozn Hassan