Urge Egypt to Commit to Women's Rights
In the wake of Egypt's revolution, many Egyptian political parties have refused to commit to basic human rights, including women's rights.
When Amnesty International asked the 54 parties running in the first post-revolution parliamentary elections to pledge to ten basic human rights, only two parties committed to all ten points. The pledges included combatting torture, ensuring fair trials, and upholding freedom of association and expression.
Perhaps most troubling, the Freedom and Justice Party, which won the most seats in parliament, would not commit to any of the pledges. Ten parties agreed to a majority of the pledges, but stopped short of committing to women's rights and protection from discrimination.
Act now to tell the new parliament to use the opportunity of drafting a new constitution to guarantee rights, including non-discrimination and gender equality, for all people in Egypt.
We the undersigned urge you to use the opportunity of drafting a new constitution to guarantee rights, including non-discrimination and gender equality, for all people in Egypt.
We are deeply concerned that of the 54 parties that ran in the parliamentary elections, only two parties pledged to ten basic human rights outlined by Amnesty International. We are especially troubled that while ten parties agreed to a majority of the pledgees, they stopped short of committing to women's rights and protection from discrimination.
We call on you to acknowledge Egyptian women's integral part in the new society by including women's rights as a cornerstone of the new constitution.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
