UN urges Egyptian authorities to heed call for democracy, human rights

(February 02, 2011) United Nations officials, including its human rights chief on Tuesday, voiced alarm at the high number of casualties caused in the protests in Egypt, and called on the country’s authorities to heed the demands of the people for democratic reform and respect for human rights. “The popular movement in Egypt, unprecedented in recent decades, has for the most part been carried out in a courageous and peaceful manner,” said Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. “The whole world is watching - how the President and the reconfigured Government will react to the continuing protests demanding a radical change to a wide range of civil, political, social, cultural and economic rights,” she said. Pillay deplored the rising number of casualties, saying unconfirmed reports suggest that as many as 300 people may have been killed so far, over 3,000 injured and hundreds arrested. She urged authorities to ensure that police and other security forces avoid excessive use of force. She also warned against arbitrarily detention of people for expressing their political opinion.
Pillay urged governments in the region and around the world to take note of the fact that genuine and lasting stability does not arise from suppression of dissent, but is built on the respect of human rights and democratic principles.