Arab Canadian Lawyers Association - “After the Arab Spring: Will Justice and Human Rights Prevail in Egypt?”

The Arab Canadian Lawyers Association presents:

“After the Arab Spring:  Will Justice and Human Rights Prevail in Egypt?”

6:30 Reception with members of ACLA

7:00 (sharp) Lecture

Beit Zatoun, 612 Markham Street, Toronto

It has been more than a year since Hosni Mubarak was ousted from his 30-year reign of Egypt; however, the revolution for human rights and justice is far from over. Today Egypt is at crossroads that will shape the future of its citizens. The tensions between religion and politics, the military and democrats, law and emergency rule are in constant flux. In the middle are Egypt’s human rights advocates who are trying to ensure the principles of the revolution are upheld, and a post-Mubarak Egypt brings true democratic changes for the country. The small victories achieved have been accompanied by numerous setbacks such as the harassment of human rights NGOs.  The panellists will discuss the role of the rule of law in establishing democratic reforms in Egypt, and whether human rights will be enshrined by the new government or will the Mubarak regime continue without him. The panellists will also provide an on-the-ground account of the challenges facing Egypt and human rights advocates, and what needs to be achieved in order to close the chapter on authoritarian rule in Egypt.
 

Bahey El-Din Hassan

Reem A. Bahdi

Professor Reem Bahdi joined Windsor University’s Faculty of Law in 2002, teaching Access to Justice and Torts. Her current research focuses on two areas: human rights dimensions of national security laws and policies in Canada; and access to justice in the Palestinian context. Professor Bahdi is Co-Director of KARAMAH, The Project on Judicial Independence and Human Dignity, a multi-million dollar initiative which aims to support access to justice in Palestine through research, continuing judicial education and directed civil society engagement.  She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice. Professor Bahdi has also been an advisor to ACLA since it was founded in 2005, and a long-time advocate for the Arab-Canadian community.

ACLA thanks the following organizations for their generous support in putting this event together:

The Windsor-Birzeit Dignity Initiative is an international, interdisciplinary research partnership housed at the University of Windsor (Canada) and Birzeit University (Palestine) that focuses on studying and institutionalizing human dignity in the Arab world.

Beit Zatoun is a cultural centre, gallery and community meeting space that promotes the interplay of art, culture and politics to explore issues of social justice and human rights, both locally and internationally.

A long-time advocate for Egypt's human rights movement, Bahey el-din Hassan established the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights and is the co-founder and Director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. Mr. Hassan has been fighting the human rights abuses of the Mubarak regime for more than 20 years. His dedication to advocating for human rights, raising awareness, and mobilising key players and NGOs across the region has earned him the label "the father of the Egyptian Human Rights Movement." Declining the post of Deputy Interior Minister for Human Rights in July 2011, Mr. Hassan remains steadfast in his determination to defend human rights and democracy in Egypt. He is also lecturer and author of articles and papers on human rights and democratic transformation in the Arab region.
 Thursday, May 3, 2012