Copenhagen – Algiers, 16th June 2011 –
In an Open Letter on the
occasion of the 6th EU-Algeria Association Council, due to take
place in Brussels on June 20, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights
Network (EMHRN), the Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights
(LADDH), the Collective of Families of the Disappeared in Algeria
(CFDA) and the National Autonomous Union of Public Administration
Staff (SNAPAP) would like to solicit the European Union and its
member States. The four undersigning organizations want to highlight
the persistence of Human rights violations in Algeria at a time when
the country is experiencing a deep social and political crisis.
The Open letter calls on the EU and its member States to adopt a
firm stance vis-à-vis the Algerian authorities demanding the country
to honor its Human rights commitments and to urgently launch a
genuine participatory, transparent and inclusive process in favor of
the adoption and the effective implementation of democratic reforms.
The Open Letter stresses the fact that, even though the state of
emergency was lifted in February, restrictions on freedoms of
association, expression, assembly and freedom to form unions
constantly occur in Algeria. Hundreds of demonstrators are still
awaiting trial after their arrest during riots and protests
witnessed in the last months, and the prosecutors remain silent in
the face of evidences of physical abuse on some of the arrested
protesters.
The organizations call on the EU and its member States to support
civil society and the democratic movement in Algeria on the occasion
of the 6th EU-Algeria Association Council. The EU should call on the
Algerian government to abide by its Human rights obligations and to
put an end to all violations against the Algerians who try to
express themselves and to get organized.The organizations claim the
respect of freedom of assembly and peaceful demonstration and demand
to stop the cloning of organizations and independent trade unions
and the arbitrary closure of their premises.
Finally, they call on the Algerian authorities to put an end to
harassment, including harassment through arbitrary judicial
procedures of Human rights defenders, independent trade unionists,
and peaceful demonstrators.
For yderligere information, kontakt:
Henriette Irminger Sonne
Communications Officer / Chargée de Communication
Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) /
Réseau Euro-Méditerranéen des Droits de l´Homme (REMDH)
Web: www.euromedrights.org
