Press release
Geneva – March 4, 2024
Ahmed Mefreh, the Executive Director of the Justice Committee, is set to participate in a crucial side event during the 55th United Nations Human Rights Council session. The event, organized by the Union Against Torture (UATC), focuses on “Strengthening safeguards against torture and other ill-treatment in the context of assemblies.”
Mefreh is expected to shed light on severe restrictions on the right to freedom of assembly in Egypt, emphasizing the repression of dissent, mainly through the arrest and torture of protesters. The event aims to draw attention to the Model Protocol on Law Enforcement, Promotion, and Protection of Human Rights in the Context of Peaceful Protests.
This protocol, set to be presented by UN Special Rapporteur Clement Fall during the Human Rights Council session, is part of a comprehensive toolkit developed in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Its objective is to enhance the capacity and practices of law enforcement agencies in promoting and protecting human rights during peaceful protests.
Experts and representatives of civil society are anticipated to convene to discuss strategies and best practices for strengthening safeguards against torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment before, during, and after gatherings outside of detention. The discussions will center around the new Model Protocol, offering recommendations on prevention, protection, accountability, and compensation for torture and ill-treatment during assemblies.
Joining Ahmed Mefreh will be prominent figures, including UN Special Rapporteur Clement Fall, UN Special Rapporteur on torture Dr. Alice Gilles Edwards, and Director of the Colombian Commission of Jurists Ana María Rodríguez.
This significant event is scheduled for next Friday, March 8, 2024, at 2 pm CET in Room 25 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The proceedings will be conducted in English with simultaneous interpretation in French and Spanish, promising a comprehensive and inclusive discussion on safeguarding human rights in assemblies.
