UN Authority Figures

UN General Assembly Vice-President: Egypt

Saad Eddin Ibrahim was convicted for defaming Egypt and sentenced to two years in prison for publishing an article in the Washington Post pushing for political reform in Egypt. (LA Times Blog, May 26, 2009.)

Mission of the General Assembly:
"The General Assembly shall initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of:
    a. promoting international co-operation in the political field and encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification; b. promoting international co-operation in the economic, social, cultural, educational, and health fields, and assisting in the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion." ("UN Charter")

Term of office: 2007-2008, 2008-2009

Egypt's Record on "the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion":
"The government's respect for human rights remained poor, and serious abuses continued in many areas. The government limited citizens' right to change their government and continued a state of emergency that has been in place almost continuously since 1967. Security forces used unwarranted lethal force and tortured and abused prisoners and detainees, in most cases with impunity. Prison and detention center conditions were poor. Security forces arbitrarily arrested and detained individuals, in some cases for political purposes, and kept them in prolonged pretrial detention. The executive branch placed limits on and pressured the judiciary. The government's respect for freedoms of press, association, and religion declined during the year, and the government continued to restrict other civil liberties, particularly freedom of speech, including Internet freedom, and freedom of assembly, including restrictions on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Government corruption and lack of transparency persisted." (US State Department's Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2008, Egypt)

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