ONLINE MODEL UNITED NATIONS

Transcription

1 ONLINE MODEL UNITED NATIONS RESEARCH REPORT

2 Research Report Page 1 of 6 Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 General Information 2 Introduction 2 Definition of Key Terms 3 Major Countries & Organizations Involved 4 Possible Solutions 4 Bibliography 5

3 Research Report Page 2 of 6 Forum : O-MUN International Affairs Dialogue Issue : The Question of Egypt: Security Abuse Presenters : Alejandro Soto and Zain Asif Position : Debate Officers of International Affairs Dialogue Introduction The Egyptian government has, for years, engaged in the practice of unlawfully incarcerating people, torturing them and denying them basic human rights. Although denied by President al-sisi and his associates, multiple independent investigations and eyewitness testimonies have corroborated the epidemic of torture instigated by Egypt s security apparatus 1. The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has even condemned the scale of the human rights abuses as probably amounts to a crime against humanity, a statement as terrifying as it is shocking 2. Among the causes for this appalling crime is the demand for total political stability following the military coup that brought al-sisi to power, which has, as well as harming prisoners, also resulted in enforced disappearances, media censorship and far more in a ruthless bid for national control. The United Nations has done nothing to address this incredibly serious issue, and the people of Egypt are paying the price in blood. It is the duty of the international community to rectify this issue to protect human lives across the globe, and to ensure every nation s congruence to human rights.

4 Research Report Page 3 of 6 Definition of Key Terms Human Rights The collection of rights within the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, legally possessed by all citizens and residents of the 193 UN Member-States, and theoretically possessed by all persons. President al-sisi & Administration (Encyclopædia Britannica) Abdel Fattah al-sisi, (born November 19, 1954 Cairo, Egypt) is an Egyptian military officer who became Egypt s de facto leader in July 2013, after the country s military removed Pres. Mohammed Morsi from power following mass protests against his rule. Sisi was elected president in May As president, Sisi confronted renewed attacks by Islamic militants. In the Sinai Peninsula, the site of a long-running insurgency against the Egyptian government, attacks became more frequent and deadlier after a local extremist group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Sisi vowed to crush the insurgency with military force and launched large-scale operations aimed at rooting out militants. Meanwhile, Sisi s administration appeared to continue the crackdown on political opposition that had begun with Morsi s ouster in International human rights groups accused the government of using excessive force against political opponents and journalists, citing widespread reports that individuals viewed as threats by the government had been subjected to abusive actions, including indefinite detention, torture, asset confiscation, and restrictions on travel inside and outside the country. Egyptian Security Apparatus 3 This term includes the following: the Ministry of the Interior s Central Security Force (CSF), the General Directorate for State Security Investigations (a.k.a. State Security Investigations), and the Egyptian local police. All Egyptian law enforcement has been given de facto immunity from prosecution should they engage in torture.

5 Research Report Page 4 of 6 Major Countries and Organisations Involved Human Rights Watch The Human Rights Watch has been on the forefront of reporting on and gathering testimonies regarding the abuse of human rights by the Egyptian security apparatus. With international backing, they have broken numerous stories themselves, as well as informing international and national media outlets to better publicise the epidemic of torture and abuse in Egypt s criminal justice system. Possible Solutions The transparent disregard based on the fundamental agreements and laws of a fair trial and processes led by the court as well as warrantless arrests and interrogations without any attorneys present is absolutely deploring. The deteriorating situation of human rights including ill treatment of detention centers, continuous sexual offences, violation of the freedom of expression and death sentences has caused their communities to become highly chaotic and no previous solution has made impactful progress. The first step to combat these horrifying issues would be for the officials at the highest levels of authority like the Ministry of Interior and the President to fully acknowledge, publicly, the overwhelming scope of torture and security abuses in the country so that they can strongly proclaim the complete intolerance of any form of torture and ill treatment as well as terminating the illegal practices of detention and enforced disappearances. Prosecutors should be allowed to conduct unannounced visits to sites in order to ensure that the agreements are being followed. Furthermore to investigate and prosecute the people responsible for the torture and ill treatment aforementioned, the ministry should get fully involved with the prosecutors and the government should also create strong penalties for torture equivalent to those of serious criminal offences. Additionally, in order to raise further global awareness, member states that have internationally announced their obligations to protect human rights, should also be encouraged to publicize against the failure of the government s capabilities to contain the human rights abuse issues, effectively punish those responsible and prevent these illegal practices from occurring. Countering these extensive abuses of power through the clear acknowledgment of the issues, investigation and

6 Research Report Page 5 of 6 punishment of torturers and international awareness of these issues validates the political will of the country to comply with the obligations of their laws. Bibliography 1. Shenker, J. (2017, September 18). Egypt guilty of kidnap, torture and abuse, says former detainee. Retrieved February 14, 2018, from r-detainee 2. HRW. (2017, September 19). "We Do Unreasonable Things Here" Torture and National Security in al-sisi's Egypt. Retrieved February 14, 2018, from 3. Al-Arian, L. (2011, January 29). Egypt's security apparatus. Retrieved February 14, 2018, from 4. HRW. (2011, January 30). Work on Him Until He Confesses Impunity for Torture in Egypt. Retrieved February 16, 2018, from

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