Civil Society in Egypt … February 2024
Parties, Syndicates and Human Rights

Section One: Egyptian Political Parties

 

Introduction:

In February, three issues dominated the activities of Egyptian parties:

• Regionally, Israeli aggression continued against Gaza and Rafah, with the occupation discussing a military operation in Palestinian Rafah. In response, Egyptian parties issued statements condemning these statements.
• Economically, anger prevailed due to massive price hikes, as well as the ambiguity and lack of transparency regarding the “Ras El Hekma” project and the alleged prosperity it would bring.
• Politically, the month witnessed a new political maneuver as the ruling authority invited opposition parties to the national dialogue table once again, following announcements by several political parties, notably the Democratic Civil Movement, to boycott the national dialogue due to the non-fulfillment of the demand to release imprisoned opinion detainees.

 

Homeland Future Party (Mostaqbal Watan Party):

The activities of the Future of the Homeland Party was mainly focused on charitable and social roles. The party’s secretariat in Al-Wadi Al-Gadid organized mobile sales outlets and offered subsidized food items in villages under the administration of Al-Kharga center. Medical caravans were dispatched to Al-Dakhla center and a medical caravan to Malawi center in Minya. They also initiated a “Warm Winter” exhibition in the village of Manshiyat Fadel Abu Nijm to sell winter clothes at discounted prices to the residents of Giza. Additionally, a job fair was held to provide 8000 job opportunities in Shubra El-Kheima in Qalyubia. The party also launched the “You Are Great with Your Work” initiative nationwide to economically empower Egyptian women and improve the standard of living for Egyptian families.

 

The Constitution Party (Al Dostour Party):

• On February 3rd, Gamila Ismail, the party’s president, participated in the opening session of the annual conference of the Freedom Committee in the General Syndicate of Egyptian Writers, discussing the Palestinian issue.
• On February 4th, the party issued a statement mourning the death of Dr. Hazem Housni, a professor of political science at Cairo University and known opposition figure.
• The party also issued a statement condemning the bombing of Palestinian Rafah, expressing anger at the ongoing crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the occupying entity since the beginning of the war.
• On February 19th, the party presented a working document to mobilize Egyptian and Sudanese parties to stop the fighting, move towards peace, cancel debts, and remove obstacles hindering the movement of Sudanese citizens and investors.

 

Conservative Party (Al Mohafezeen): 

• The party participated in national dialogue sessions and demanded the cessation of all economic projects that have not yet commenced and have not undergone feasibility studies because they are one of the reasons for the accumulation of debts.
• On February 1st, the party opposed the law on securing and protecting public facilities and vital installations, describing it as another step towards militarizing the society.
• The party’s president also participated in the General Syndicate conference of the Egyptian Writers’ Union to support the Palestinian people, showing solidarity and providing full support to the Palestinian people.
• The party issued a statement on February 4th mourning the death of Dr. Hazem Hosni, a professor of political science at Cairo University.
• On February 5th, the party expressed its condemnation of the sale of 7 hotels (including 4 hotels listed as historical and archaeological buildings), including the Khedive Ismail Lodge in Giza established in 1869 (Mena House Hotel).
• The party also issued a statement on February 18th condemning statements made by US National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan, indicating American intentions to “defeat the Hamas movement.” The party declared clearly that such statements are naive and futile, not taking into account the complex political and humanitarian reality in the region.
• Additionally, the party issued a statement on February 20th expressing its condemnation of the United States’ use of the veto against the Algerian resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

 

Bread and Freedom Party (Under Establishment):

• On February 1st, the party officially called for the resignation of the Minister of Supply, emphasizing that the deepening and enduring economic crisis, unprecedented in its scale and duration, disproportionately affects the poorest and most marginalized segments of society. This occurs against a backdrop of economic policies subject to the dictates and interventions of the International Monetary Fund, with heavy reliance on borrowing from the same.
• By the 4th of February during the month, the party collected donations, which were subsequently delivered to the Red Crescent for distribution to the women of Gaza. This initiative aligned with the 100-day mark since the beginning of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
• On February 14th, the party’s official page issued an invitation for peaceful protest initiated by the Democratic Civil Movement, urging participation on Friday to denounce the Zionist-led displacement atrocities in Rafah.

Egyptian Social Democratic Party:

• On February 3rd, the party organized a seminar titled “January 25: What It Represents and What It Entails.”
• The party participated in the “Not a Luxury” campaign, collecting donations including medical supplies, winter clothes, blankets, medicines, and baby formula, which were delivered to the Egyptian Red Crescent.
• On February 7th, Member of Parliament Amira Saber, Deputy President of the Party, submitted a parliamentary question addressed to the Prime Minister, Minister of Local Development, and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities regarding the defacement of decorations at the historic Abu al-Abbas Mosque in Alexandria.
• On February 10th, MP Sanaa El-Saeed, a party member of the House of Representatives, submitted a parliamentary question addressed to the Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education regarding the leaking of midterm exams at the Faculty of Social Service at Asyut University and their publication on online platforms.
• The party condemned in a statement the recent escalation by the Israeli occupation army and the ongoing Israeli killing machine harvesting the lives of the Palestinian people despite the International Court of Justice’s ruling and despite mass protests worldwide.
• On February 18th, Engineer Ihab Mansour submitted a parliamentary question addressed to the Prime Minister and Minister of Labor regarding the rights of pensioners at the Egyptian Telecommunications Company who are complaining about not receiving their entitlements.
• On February 20th, the party held a seminar titled “The Role of Women in the Egyptian National Movement.”

 

Socialist Popular Alliance Party:

• On February 5th, the party published a report on “Legislation Regulating Foreign Ownership of Real Estate in Egypt.”
• Additionally, the party called for absentee funeral prayers in all mosques to commemorate the souls of the Palestinian martyrs…

 

Dignity Party (Al Karama): 

• On the anniversary of Mubarak’s departure, the Unified Nassiry Trend held an artistic ceremony on February 10th to commemorate the January Revolution under the title “January 25: Revolution, Not Conspiracy.” The event was attended by leaders of the national movement from Kefaya, March 9, and the National Alliance for Change, as well as some families of the revolution’s martyrs and injured.

 

The Republican People’s Party:

• The party distributed blankets to the most needy families, coinciding with the winter cold.
• On February 4th, party MP Hanaa Anis Rizkallah, submitted a parliamentary inquiry to Chancellor Hanafi Gebali, President of the Council, regarding the successive increases in iron prices in the Egyptian market, against the backdrop of a noticeable rise in iron and bread prices witnessed in Egyptian markets.
• On February 11th, Senator Mohamed Saeed El Daby, a member of the senate and Secretary of the Republican People’s Party in the Red Sea Governorate, participated in implementing a “new roof” convoy for 60 houses and rooms in areas such as “New and Old Zarzara, Al Amal, and Al Mallaha” in Hurghada city to protect poor families from the winter cold.
• The party’s social activities continued with medical caravans and commodity exhibitions in Dakahlia, Qena, Aswan, and Giza.

 

El Wafd Party:

• The month began for the party with a proposal that sparked widespread criticism. It involved suggesting the issuance of an ethically binding legislation prior to it becoming legally binding for Egyptians residing abroad. This legislation would require them to transfer 20% of their income to Egyptian banks in dollars and receive it back in Egyptian pounds.
• Furthermore, the party denounced the Israeli occupation’s targeting of the Palestinian city of Rafah, which is populated by displaced individuals, as part of its ongoing series of massacres which are seen as part of the genocidal atrocities being committed against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since October 7th of the previous year.

 

Justice Party (Al Adl):

• • The party in Kafr El-Sheikh organized a program to train new members on political terminologies, Egyptian political history, and political ideologies, especially social liberalism and the political line of the Justice Party.
  • On February 4th, the Justice Party mourned the passing of Dr. Hazem Hosni, one of the symbols of the democratic national trend.
  • Additionally, the party issued a call to all those interested in heritage and antiquities to “Save Menkaure” from the recklessness of the Ministry of Antiquities and its officials, following the announcement of the “Pyramid Paving Project.”
  • On February 10th, the party organized a roundtable discussion titled “Debate on the Refusal of Medical Service Providers to Treat AIDS Patients and Stigmatized Patients.”
  • On February 22nd, the Justice Party held a workshop on analyzing the situation of agricultural manufacturing in Egypt and the role of olive oil industry in boosting the Egyptian economy.

• On February 24th, the Justice Party issued a statement regarding the Ras El Hikma investment deal, stating that “the Justice Party values the deal announced for the implementation of the ‘Ras El Hikma City’ project, considering it a successful and exceptional step by investment standards.”

 

The Revolutionary Socialists Movement:

• On February 2nd, the movement announced its support for the “T and C Company” workers’ strike to increase wages. Additionally, it published a report on economic policies and their impact on the poor and the growing poverty.
• On February 10th, the movement issued a statement regarding the approval of military operations plans by the Zionist army in the city of Rafah. The movement expressed that any military operation in that area would mean the occurrence of horrific massacres.
• The movement also declared its support for the strike of Universal Company workers on February 17th to demand salary increases and obtain their financial entitlements.
• As the workers of Al-Mahalla began their strike on February 22nd to demand salary increases and the implementation of minimum wage, the movement published a supportive news piece and stance.

 

Section 2: Professional and Labor Unions in Egypt

 

Professional Unions:

• Egyptian Journalists Syndicate:
• The decision was made by the Journalists Syndicate Council to approve equality between male and female journalists in the percentage of benefit for the journalist’s spouse from the journalists’ treatment project and their families, so that the percentage of benefit for the female journalist’s male spouse becomes 70%, an increase of 20% from what was previously applied.
• On February 6, the syndicate submitted new requests to the Attorney General and the Presidential Pardon Committee to release the detained journalists. The Syndicate’s President clarified that the list includes 23 names of journalists held in pretrial detention, with their detention periods ranging from one year to four years.
• On February 7, the Journalists Syndicate Council welcomed the Public Prosecutor’s decisions to release a number of detainees, including colleagues Manal Ajrama and Safaa Al-Korbeigy, with the guarantee of their residence pending investigations by the State Security Prosecution.
• The Journalists Syndicate Council also praised the President’s decision to raise the minimum wages by 50%.
• The Syndicate condemned the practices and restrictions imposed by MP Mohammed Abu El-Enein, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sada El-Balad TV Channel, on the journalists working for the channel, instead of implementing the minimum wage and the directives of the President.
• On February 10, the Training and Research Center of the Journalists Syndicate announced the organization of an advanced training course in mobile journalism for a limited number of trainees on a first-come, first-served basis.
• On February 11, the Journalists Syndicate announced its strong rejection of the threats by the Zionist entity to launch a military operation against “our people” in Rafah, Palestine, and the genocide being practiced against the Palestinian people.
• The Syndicate nominated Palestinian journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh for the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize for his efforts towards his Palestinian people.
• On February 18, the Social and Health Care Committee of the Journalists Syndicate announced the holding of a meeting to discuss “the rights and challenges of persons with disabilities.”
• The General Assembly of the “Journalistic Photographers” division was postponed due to the lack of the legal quorum (50% + 1), with the General Assembly of the division scheduled to convene and elections to be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

• The Egyptian Lawyers Syndicate:
• • On February 1, the General Secretariat of the Lawyers Syndicate decided to extend the registration period for the seventh session of the Greater Cairo Bar Association Institute of Advocacy until next Monday, February 5th.

• On February 10, the Women’s Committee of the General Lawyers Syndicate completed the remaining lectures of the (Supporter) course for qualifying and training lawyers to learn sign language, in cooperation with the Egyptian Foundation for the Rights of the Deaf and Translators.

• The Egyptian Medical Syndicate:
• On January 31, the Doctors Syndicate communicated with the management of El Matariya Teaching Hospital, which filed a report on behalf of the institution after one of the attendants of a hospitalized patient assaulted the intensive care physician, Mohamed Sami, during his duty. On February 3, the Public Prosecution renewed the detention of the accused.
• On February 7, the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, through its social arm “Egypt Giving Committee,” prepared the second relief convoy for the people of Palestine.
• On February 8, the Doctors Syndicate commended the package of social protection measures and urged President Sisi to support the legitimate rights of its members. The Syndicate’s president requested the President to direct the government to quickly enact the Medical Liability Law and to strengthen penalties for attacks on medical facilities.
• On February 12, the General Doctors Syndicate sent a letter to the Cabinet, including its observations and proposals regarding the Medical Liability and Patient Safety Bill. The Syndicate’s president stated that the current draft of the Medical Liability Law perpetuates all the flaws of the current system in litigating medical issues.
• On February 19, the Continuous Medical Education Committee of the General Syndicate announced the organization of a course on neonatal resuscitation and how to interpret blood gases.
• On February 20, the Council of the Federation of Medical Professions approved a proposal presented by the Secretary-General of the Doctors Syndicate to increase the pensions of members of the syndicates of “Human Doctors, Pharmacists, Dentists, and Veterinary Doctors” to 1500 Egyptian pounds monthly, disbursed every 3 months.

• The Teachers Syndicate
• On February 7, the State Security Prosecution decided to release 60 individuals, including Gamal Naji, Zakaria Talaat, Shimaa Hassan, and Ahmed Tolba, from the case known as “The Teachers” case, under Case No. 2333 of 2023. Which involves a number of teachers who were arrested following protests against the results of a competition for 30,000 teachers.
• On February 14, the Teachers Syndicate announced an increase in the monetary value of the insurance benefit received by teachers upon reaching retirement age from the Teachers Syndicate Fellowship Fund, to 42,000 Egyptian pounds, an increase of 5,000 pounds from the last increase approved last year.

• The Egyptian Engineers Syndicate:
• On February 7th, both the Egyptian Engineers Syndicate and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the “Adel Barakat” Academy signed a cooperation protocol to train engineers and enhance their professional qualifications, aiming to improve local manufacturing efficiency.
• On February 13th, the Engineers Syndicate expressed its strong rejection and condemnation of the Zionist occupation forces’ crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza. The number of martyrs has risen to more than 30,000 since the beginning of the war.

• The Veterinarians Syndicate:

On February 18th, the syndicate revealed an actual shortage of veterinarians exceeding 9000 vacancies, with only about 150 veterinary doctors assigned to inspection in the veterinary medicine directorates nationwide. They emphasized that the failure to appoint veterinarians soon could lead to a catastrophe in veterinary services, especially since veterinary appointments have been suspended for nearly 10 years.

• The Agricultural Syndicate:
• On February 3rd, the head of the Agricultural Syndicate in Alexandria led a union delegation to visit the General Union of Alexandria Workers to discuss mutual cooperation in training, education, and exchanging expertise.
• On February 12th, the General Syndicate declared its condemnation of the events in occupied Palestine and the brutal aggression by the Israeli occupation against people of all ages, including children, women, and the elderly.

• The Musical Professions Syndicate
• On January 28th, the Nozha Misdemeanor Court sentenced the composer Ahmed Hegazy to 6 months in prison and a bail of 2000 Egyptian pounds on charges of contempt of religions, after he appeared in a video reading the Quran to the tune of the oud.
• On February 4th, the artist Mustafa Kamel withdrew his resignation from the position of syndicate head and resumed his duties after the board members supported him in his role and persuaded him to reconsider his decision.
• On February 20th, the Economic Court issued a final verdict of acquittal for the artist Mustafa Kamel, head of the Musical Professions Syndicate, from the charge of insulting and defaming Ahmed Ramadan, the former secretary of the syndicate, in the case brought against the syndicate head by Ramadan.

• The Visual Artists Syndicate:
• On January 31st, the Economic Court in Cairo sentenced the Egyptian designer Ghada Wali to 6 months in prison and temporary compensation of 100,000 pounds after her conviction for stealing some drawings belonging to the Russian artist and using them in an advertisement inside one of the Cairo subway stations.

• Nursing Syndicate
• On February 7th, the head of the Nursing Syndicate expressed gratitude to the president for his great concern for nursing staffs, following the announcement of the largest urgent social package for social protection worth 180 billion pounds, to be implemented starting from March next month.
• On February 22nd, the Nursing Syndicate announced the participation of the head of the Nursing Syndicate in the First Scientific Student Forum of the Nursing College at Mansoura Private University, under the title “A Glimpse into the Future of Healthcare Leaders.”
• On February 25th, a meeting was held between the head of the Nursing Syndicate and the Minister of Finance to discuss ways to implement the new social protection measures according to the president’s directives, as well as disbursement methods, increases, and implementation timelines.

 

Labor Unions:

• General Union of Textile and Garment Workers
• On January 31st, protests by workers of the “T and C” clothing company in the city of Al Obour continued, demanding an increase in their salaries, especially in the face of the current wave of inflation. The Center of Trade Union and Workers Services announced its readiness to provide legal and technical support for negotiations with the company’s management. On February 2nd, the management of the Turkish clothing company “T and C Garment” closed its doors and threatened to dismiss labor leaders if the workers did not end the strike they had begun.
• On February 22nd, approximately 3,700 female workers in the garment factories of Ghazl El Mahalla announced a strike protesting the exclusion of the public sector companies including Ghazl Al Mahalla Company, from the president’s decision to raise the minimum wage by 6,000 pounds.
• On February 24th, the female workers of Ghazl El Mahalla resumed their strike, with all the workers of the first shift, numbering about 7,000, gathering in Talaat Harb Square inside the company, demanding an increase in the minimum wage to 6,000 pounds and a gradual wage increase based on seniority, as well as a reduction in the taxes they pay.

 

• General Union of Workers in Engineering, Metal, and Electrical Industries:
• Workers at Universal Appliances Production Company continued their strike in protest against the management’s failure to meet their demands. On February 18th, the workers announced their return to work after striking since the previous Wednesday. This came after the management rejected their demand for a wage increase of 1000 pounds, instead offering a 250-pound increase, which the workers refused, leading them to continue their strike. Eventually, the management raised the increase to 500 pounds, which was agreed upon by both the management and the workers, leading to the end of the workers’ strike.

 

• General Union of Workers in the Food Industries
• On February 5th, the Center of Trade Union and Workers Services stated that workers at the 5 stars mills Industrial Company in Suez had initiated an open sit-in at the factory premises. They confirmed that the protesting workers were demanding salary adjustments commensurate with the increase in prices and the establishment of an internal regulation for the company.
• On February 22nd, the management of 5 Stars Mills decided to backtrack on its previous commitments to its employees and announced the non-payment of any wage increases, allowances, or bonuses. They also postponed the meeting with the company owner to agree on a company regulation indefinitely. This decision came after the factory had delivered an export order that was being processed during the negotiations.

 

Section Three: Human Rights Movement:

 

First: The most important activities, publications, and initiatives of human rights institutions:

• The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR):

• On February 11th, the council held a consultative meeting with a student delegation from New Giza University regarding their vision for human rights and reproductive rights. The session took place at the council’s headquarters.
• On February 12th, the National Council for Human Rights received a delegation from the Egyptian-German Parliamentary Friendship Association at the council’s headquarters.
• On the same date, the council issued a statement expressing its grave concern about the repeated reports of an imminent military operation against the Palestinian city of Rafah and the consequent Israeli attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians towards Egyptian territory.
• On February 20th, the official website of the council published a statement regarding the conclusion of the council’s activities within the governorate of Fayoum as part of the project “Support to the National Council for Human Rights” in cooperation with the European Union..

• The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR):
• On January 28th, the initiative issued a statement condemning the arbitrary actions of the authorities responsible for church construction in Minya Governorate, specifically the refusal to issuance of official permits for the construction of three churches, following sectarian attacks by protesters opposed to the presence of these churches in villages in the governorate.
• On February 6th, the initiative issued a statement condemning the verdict of the Misdemeanor Court in Matariya held at the Amiriyah Courts Complex, which sentenced former presidential candidate Ahmed Al-Tantawi to one year in prison with hard labor and banned him from running in parliamentary elections for 5 years in the case known in the media as the “Popular Powers of Attorney” case.
• On February 8th, the initiative issued a statement calling on the Ministry of Interior to implement the decision of the Appellate Misdemeanor Court held at the Consultative Chamber, which ordered the release of their client Ahmed Sabry Nassef on bail, based on Case No. 9198 of 2023, after nearly seven years of pretrial detention.
• On February 14th, the initiative issued a statement condemning the decision of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to suspend its correspondent in Cairo, Sally Nabil, from work and refer her to disciplinary investigation, alleging violation of the corporation’s policy regarding the use of social media and bias against Israel.

• The Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms:
• On February 6th, the Commission issued a legal commentary on Article 40 of the Investment Law regarding the importation from free zones into the country titled “Is Egypt turning into a hazardous waste dump?”
• On February 7th, the Commission issued a statement urging the government to immediately halt forced evictions of residents of Al-Jamil suburb in Port Said and to refrain from unilateral decision-making without involving the residents in determining their fate.
• On the same date, the Commission filed a report to the Attorney General to disclose the whereabouts of activist Ahmed Gika, who has been held in an undisclosed location since January 22nd following the payment of the financial guarantee issued in Case No. 3117 of 2023, administrative Kafr Shukr.
• On February 8th, the Commission issued statements condemning the verdict against former parliamentarian Ahmed Tantawi, sentencing him to one year in prison with labor and banning him from running for parliamentary elections for 5 years, considering it a message of intimidation to the opposition.
• On February 19th, the “Save Freedom of Expression” initiative issued a statement through the Commission condemning the summons of Lina Atallah, editor-in-chief of “Mada Masr,” for investigation by the Cairo Appeals Prosecution Office at the Attorney General’s office and demanding an end to the targeting of independent journalistic sites.
• The Egyptian Network for Human Rights:
• On January 28th, the network published a legal commentary on Article 441 of the Criminal Procedures Law titled “Everything you need to know about requesting a review of death penalty cases.”
• On February 1st, the Network published a report titled “Detention Center at Cairo International Airport: Is it a humane detention center or a hotbed of epidemics?” to monitor and document violations against detainees, both Egyptians and foreigners, inside the airport detention center.
• On February 4th, the Egyptian Network issued a demand urging the Attorney General to intervene to determine the fate of activist Ahmed Gika, as national security persists in hiding him for the thirteenth consecutive day, obstructing the implementation of his release procedures issued on January 22nd.
• On February 6th, the Network issued a statement regarding the entry of dozens of inmates at “Rehabilitation Center 2” in Wadi El Natrun Rehabilitation Complex into a partial hunger strike for the past 4 days, protesting the poor living conditions experienced by detainees.
• Technology and Law Community – Masaar:
• On January 29th, the institution issued a research paper titled “Bridging the Gender Gap in Education Through Digital Technologies” aiming to provide insight into what digital technologies can offer in bridging the gender gap in education and discussing the challenges hindering the success of traditional methods in helping bridge the gender gap in education.
• On February 5th, the institution issued a research paper titled “Beyond-Infrastructure: Egypt’s Approaches to Internet Governance” aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the relationship between the Egyptian state and internet governance over nearly three decades.
• The New Woman Foundation:
• On February 4th, the foundation participated in organizing a roundtable discussion, with local leaders and members of youth and women’s civil society associations in Sharkia, regarding legal discrimination and impunity for perpetrators in cases of violence and discrimination, especially in cases of cyber violence.
• On February 13th, the foundation, in collaboration with the Egyptian Association for Comprehensive Development, organized a seminar attended by 40 women and girls who regularly attend educational seminars at the Church of Faith as part of its “Dignity2” project. The seminar addressed the topics of gender equality, discrimination against women in legislation, impunity for perpetrators in cases of violence, especially cyber violence, and discrimination crimes.
• On February 24th, the foundation issued a statement in solidarity with the workers of Ghazl El Mahalla Spinning and Weaving Company in their legitimate strike for equality in minimum wages.

• Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance (CEWLA)
• On February 13th, the Anti-Violence against women Program in the CEWLA concluded the activities of the training workshop for lawyers and future beneficiaries from civil society associations and initiatives working on combating violence and electronic extortion, as part of the events of the Safety and Digital Security project.
• On February 14th, the Access to Justice program at the institution concluded a three-day workshop for 25 lawyers in Minya Governorate, aiming to facilitate extensive discussions between the institution and lawyers regarding the most important provisions of a more just family law project.
• On February 20th, CEWLA organized a workshop with 44 marginalized women and girls to develop a preliminary formulation for an initiative led by women and girls in cooperation with the Medan Association for Development and Human Rights in Qalyubia Governorate. A preliminary formulation of an initiative titled “Improving the Quality of Health Services in Sindbis Health Unit” was completed.
• On the same date, the Women’s Issues Foundation concluded the training workshop for journalists on legislation protecting women from violence and skills for working on media campaigns, which lasted from February 18th to February 20th, 2024.

• Center for Trade Unions and Workers Services (CTUWS)
• On January 31st, the Center announced its support for the strike of T&C workers to demand wage increases.
• On January 31st and February 1st, the Center organized a training course at its headquarters in Alexandria on Labor Law No. 12 of 2003 and its provisions. Eight members of the Mondelēz Egypt Alexandria Workers’ Union board participated.
• On February 4th, the Center posted a “distress call” video from the mother of ambulance worker Sameh Zakaria, demanding his release after a year and a half of pretrial detention.
• On February 5th, the Center issued a statement in solidarity with the Five Stars Mills workers in their strike to demand wage increases.
• On February 6th, the Center issued a statement in solidarity with Universal workers in their strike to demand the implementation of the collective labor agreement signed by the company’s management with the workers but not implemented.
• On February 9th and 10th, the Center organized the fifth session of the training program for union leaders titled “Crisis Management.” With the participation of 14 union leaders from 7 labor unions.
• On February 12th, the Center organized a panel discussion titled “The Future of Trade Union Work Amidst the Deterioration of Workers’ Living Conditions” to discuss the annual report it released on the state of trade union freedoms in Egypt.
• The Program for Working Women held a training workshop on February 16th for investment sector female workers in Port Said on Labor Law No. 12 of 2003 in preparation for International Women’s Day.
• On February 16th, the Center held a panel discussion in Al Mahalla Al Kubra in collaboration with the Construction Workers Union Committee in Gharbia Governorate on “Challenges of Social Insurance for Non-Regular Workers,” with the attendance of MP Ahmed Bilal.
• On February 20th, the Center held a panel discussion titled “Unemployment Compensation: A Right, Not a Grant,” and announced the launch of a campaign to demand the right to unemployment compensation.
• The Program for Working Women organized a workshop titled “Towards Equal Opportunities: Insights and Experiences of Women in the Workplace” on February 24th, with the participation of 21 female workers from 5 governorates and 5 labor unions.
• On February 22nd and 23rd, the Center organized a training course at its headquarters in Alexandria on Social Insurance Law No. 148 of 2019, attended by 17 participants from the Nile Lenin Group Workers’ Union.
• The Center declared its solidarity with the strike of Ghazl El Mahalla workers on February 22nd and issued a statement on February 26th explaining the shortcomings in the company management’s response to the workers’ demands and condemned the security forces’ summons of several workers for participating in the strike.

 

Violations and harassment:

• Detention Renewal:
• On January 30th, the Cairo Criminal Court renewed the detention of activist and translator Marwa Arafa for 45 days pending investigation in Case No. 570 of 2020, State Security Supreme.
• On February 5th, the State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of human rights lawyer Huda Abd El Moneim for 15 days pending investigation in Case No. 730 of 2020, State Security Supreme.

• Investigations:
• On February 20th, the Cairo Public Prosecution interrogated journalist Lina Atallah, the editor-in-chief of Mada Masr website, accusing her of disseminating false news and data, managing a website without a license. The prosecution ordered her release on bail of 5,000 Egyptian pounds.

• Judicial Decisions:
• On February 6th, the Misdemeanor Court of El-Matareya sentenced former parliamentarian and former potential presidential candidate Ahmed Tantawi to one year in prison with labor and a bail of 20,000 pounds to suspend the execution of the sentence pending appeal. He was also banned from running in any parliamentary elections for 5 years from the finalization of the ruling in the case known in the media as the “Popular Power of Attorneys Case.”