Founding Declaration of the Egyptian Democracy Support

Introduction

The year 2005 witnessed popular movements for real democratic change in Egypt, stemming from the democratic steps seen in the region in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. These movements in Egypt and the Arab World attracted the attention of pro-democracy advocates all over the world. In the last five months European and American foundations and individuals have responded to their Egyptian counterparts with efforts to foster coordination and cooperation on democratic progress.

During the May, 2005 meeting in Brussels of the Transatlantic Democracy Support Network it was agreed by Egyptians and members of the international community to take the first steps to create this Network. The Ibn Khaldun Centre undertook the responsibility of preparing for the founding meeting in Alexandria on 22 and 23 October, 2005. Following the discussions of the meeting it was agreed that the Network will be composed of an Egyptian task force and a broad and loosely structured international support network.

I. Objectives of Egyptian Task Force

a. Recording, monitoring and reporting on all positive and negative political movements that relate to the promotion of democracy and human rights on the Egyptian scene.

b. Monitoring the impending parliamentary elections as a prelude to monitoring municipal and syndicate elections, in addition to any other elections in public institutions.

c. Permanent monitoring and follow up for

• i) The commitments made by the President and the ruling party during the presidential and parliamentary election campaigns to institute genuine political reforms.
• ii) Extent of respect for human rights, whether economic, social, political, religious, personal, etc

II. Fundamental principles

a. The goals and needs of the Network are to be developed and expressed by the Egyptian task force. Within this context, they seek support of various types from their international partners.

b. International partners interested in the promotion of democracy in Egypt respond to this call and convene a loose international network to provide assistance as requested by the Egyptian task force in the forms described below.

III. Operational mechanisms of the Egyptian task force

a. The task force establishes an independent secretariat, based in turn in each of the member organisation by periodic rotation. The secretariat will be independent from any of the member organisations and will receive instructions from, and report to, a steering committee. The composition of the steering committee will be decided in a joint meeting of all task force members.

b. The task force members agree on regular meetings, at least every month or more often, according to need. The meetings will discuss the political developments in Egypt and what measures can be taken to address them.

c. New members for the task force and of the international network may be nominated by an existing member, and need to be approved by the task force, based on their commitment to the goals of the task force, in ideas as well as organisation.

d. The task force will open a dialogue with Egyptian political forces and parties to identify and discuss their problems and concerns in the democratic development process. Political parties, however, will not be members of the task group.

e. The task force will, determine the salaries, types and timing of the support requested from the international network, in accordance with its goals.

f. Division of work among the task force will be effected by mutual agreement, based on the members' capabilities. Regular reviews of the work undertaken by participating organisations will be conducted, to ensure the most effective distribution of work.

g. When deemed necessary, task force members will organize common meetings and decide on any steps to be taken to express their views to the general public and the government.

h. The secretariat will prepare regular reports to be circulated internally, with translated summaries sent to the international network members.

i. The task force will set up a website for advertising its message, informing its members and activities. The contents of the website are to be updated regularly, at least as frequently as the regular meetings.

Operational mechanisms of the international network

a.The structure of the international component of the EDSN will be more loose, to allow for the widest and most diverse membership possible.

b.The responses of international members will reflect the needs identified by Egyptian Task Force, and may include the following:

i. Technical assistance: The International Network includes international organizations and expert practitioners that possess considerable expertise and experience which, if effectively transmitted, can build the capacity of Egyptian civil society and political parties, both of which are indispensable to democratic transition and consolidation.

ii. Lobbying: International associates may use their influence to inform and/or persuade governments, parliaments, civil society and international organizations and bodies, in order to affect change in policies with respect to Egypt.

iii. Financial assistance: International network will facilitate contact between Egyptian member organizations and willing international donors who have the potential to provide grants. The website will be instrumental in providing information on those international donor organizations to Egyptian members.

iv. Consider signing joint statements: At the request of the Egyptian Task Force, International associates may sign joint statements circulated by the secretariat for international support. Signatures of any joint statements would be a case by case decision of each of the international members.

Conclusion

The network welcomes cooperating and coordinating with more Egyptian,Arab and international organisations and individuals working in the same field, be they civic, non-governmental or governmental. It also invites all citizens concerned with democratic issues and human rights to contact it for information on potential support, as well as to provide information or complaints on issues relevant to this founding declaration.