On World Human Rights Day… The Egyptian Center calls for intensifying the efforts of releasing prisoners of conscience and activating the National Strategy for Human Rights

Tuesday, Saturday, the world celebrates World Human Rights Day. In this occasion, the Egyptian Center for Economic and social Rights (ECESR) renew his demand to intensify the efforts to release prisoners of conscience who were arrested due to their peaceful activities, in addition to putting an end to prolonged pretrial detention, so that it doesn’t turn into a punishment.

ECESR affirms that the Presidential Pardon committee which was reactivated months ago by President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, contributed to the release of hundreds of prisoners, which it is considered a positive and appreciated step. Moreover, the Center hopes that more prisoners will be released in these difficult economic conditions.

The Center believes that the National Strategy for Human Rights was a step in a road, however it lacks implementation, as without implementing its texts, it will remain fruitless and without any significant effectiveness.

Finally, ECESR calls for improving the workers’ conditions, in addition to not leaving them as a prey to business owners, together with intervening to allow those who were arbitrary dismissed from their work during the past period to return to their jobs.

On December 10, the International Community celebrates World Human Rights Day, and commemorates the day when the UN General Assembly proclaimed The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

The formal inception of Human Rights Day dates from 1950, after the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V) inviting all States and international organizations to adopt 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out a broad range of fundamental rights and freedoms to which all of us are entitled. It guarantees the rights of every individual everywhere, without distinction based on nationality, place of residence, gender, national or ethnic origin, religion, language, or any other status.

Although the Declaration is not a binding document, it inspired more than 60 human rights instruments which together constitute an international standard of human rights.

The general consent of all United Nations Member States on the basic Human Rights laid down in the Declaration makes it even stronger and emphasizes the relevance of Human Rights in our daily lives.