Human Rights and the Elections in Egypt: Live on Facebook

Now that the parliamentary elections are coming, the NGO Human Rights First  is bringing together Egypt’s “Facebook Girl” Esraa Abdel Fattah and journalist and activist Bassel Mohamed Adel Ibrahim for an interactive discussion on Facebook about human rights issues in Egypt. And you are invited.

The discussion, titled Human Rights Challenges as Egypt Prepares for Parliamentary Election, will be live streamed on Human Rights First’s Facebook page on Monday, February 4 at 12pm EST. 

You can submit your questions and comments here

What: Human Rights Challenges as Egypt Prepares for Parliamentary Elections

Amid escalating protests and violence in Egypt, the United States is watching anxiously for signs that Egypt’s transition from authoritarianism can move forward. Parliamentary elections are expected to take place in the next few months. These are critical times for Egyptian democracy activists who have not been able to channel the energy of the 2011 protests into victory at the polls.

What do activists expect from these elections, and what are the obstacles to Egypt achieving progress toward a peaceful democratic transition?  What can the United States do — and what should it not do — to promote human rights and universal values in Egypt in the vital months ahead?

Who:

• Esraa Abdel Fattah: Leading democracy activist; vice-chairperson of the Egyptian Democratic Academy, an independent human rights and democracy promotion organization; pioneer social media activist; known as Egypt’s “Facebook Girl” for founding the April 6 Youth Movement in 2008
• Bassel Mohamed Adel Ibrahim: Political activist and journalist; co-founder of the Al-Ghad Party with Ayman Nour in 2004; member of the steering committee of the Constitution Party, led by Mohamed al-Baradei
• Neil Hicks: International Policy Advisor, Human Rights First

When:  Monday, February 4, 2013 at 12pm EST

Where: Live stream on Facebook.