Freedom of Letter concerning the arrest, detention and sentencing of three Al Jazeera 06/10/2015 Egypt expression; journalists. On 1 September 2015, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the AL promotion and protection of the freedom of opinion and expression issued a press release condemning the sentencing of Mr. Mohamed Fahmy, Mr. Bahar Mohamed and Mr. Peter Greste and urged their immediate release. This statement was endorsed by the Chair-Rapporteur of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. On 3 September 2015, the Permanent Mission of Egypt submitted a response to the Special Rapporteur, noting disappointment at Egypt’s the assertion that of expression is not respected in and “freedom Egypt” emphasizing its constitutional guarantees protecting this right, freedom of the press and media and independence of the judiciary. In his reply, the Special Rapporteur further elaborates on his concerns regarding the situation of freedom of expression in Egypt and also the legitimate limitations to this right. Freedom of Allegations of potential human rights violations as a result of a draft law relating to 06/10/2015 Kazakhstan expression; the activities of non-governmental organizations which, if adopted with no further JAL Freedom of changes, may seriously compromise the independence and existence of civil peaceful assembly society organizations in Kazakhstan. According to the information received, on 7 and of association; July 2015, a draft law amending the laws on non-profit organizations, on state Human rights social order (procurement), and the Code of Administrative Offences, was defenders; introduced before the National Parliament. On 23 September 2015, the Lower House of the Parliament approved the draft law in first and second readings and it is reportedly now before the Senate for its consideration. The draft law establishes a new operator with the power to provide governmental and non-governmental grants to non-governmental organizations, which may give the authorities the ability to control the entire sector. The draft law also prohibits associations receiving governmental grants from using more than 10 percent of their funding for administrative expenditures, hence with the potential to compromise the existence of civil society organizations. Further, despite consultations with civil society organizations, some important suggestions made have not been reflected in the final draft.
06/10/2015 AL Egypt Freedom of expression; Letter concerning the arrest, detention and sentencing of three Al Jazeera journalists. On 1 September 2015, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the freedom of opinion and expression issued a press release condemning the sentencing of Mr. Mohamed Fahmy, Mr. Bahar Mohamed and Mr. Peter Greste and urged their immediate release. This statement was endorsed by the Chair-Rapporteur of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. On 3 September 2015, the Permanent Mission of Egypt submitted a response to the Special Rapporteur, noting Egypt’s disappointment at the assertion that “freedom of expression is not respected in Egypt” and emphasizing its constitutional guarantees protecting this right, freedom of the press and media and independence of the judiciary. In his reply, the Special Rapporteur further elaborates on his concerns regarding the situation of freedom of expression in Egypt and also the legitimate limitations to this right. 06/10/2015 JAL Kazakhstan Freedom of expression; Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Human rights defenders; Allegations of potential human rights violations as a result of a draft law relating to the activities of non-governmental organizations which, if adopted with no further changes, may seriously compromise the independence and existence of civil society organizations in Kazakhstan. According to the information received, on 7 July 2015, a draft law amending the laws on non-profit organizations, on state social order (procurement), and the Code of Administrative Offences, was introduced before the National Parliament. On 23 September 2015, the Lower House of the Parliament approved the draft law in first and second readings and it is reportedly now before the Senate for its consideration. The draft law establishes a new operator with the power to provide governmental and non-governmental grants to non-governmental organizations, which may give the authorities the ability to control the entire sector. The draft law also prohibits associations receiving governmental grants from using more than 10 percent of their funding for administrative expenditures, hence with the potential to compromise the existence of civil society organizations. Further, despite consultations with civil society organizations, some important suggestions made have not been reflected in the final draft.
A-HRC-31-79_en.docx