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.