Ref: 11/2012

Lawyer Raji Sourani, Director of the Palestinian Center for Human
Rights (PCHR), in his capacity as Member of the Executive Committee of the
International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), participated in a conference titled
“The Role of the Constitution in Transition to Democracy in Egypt.”  The conference, which was held in Cairo on 6
and 7 February 2012, was organized by the ICJ in cooperation with the Arab
Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession.

The conference was attended by several judges, lawyers, academics
and representatives of human rights and civil society organizations. 

In his opening speech at the conference, Sourani emphasized that a
constitution is the essence of the philosophy of any regime, and it is the
document that organizes the system of any state.  He pointed out that the ICJ expresses
solidarity with Egypt and supports the Egyptian revolutions on its own way by
providing various internal scientific and legal experience, considering that
the Egyptian law is the real guarantee for freedoms, human dignity and human
rights, and it ensures the separation of powers and the independence of the
judiciary. 

Sourani further stressed the importance of establishing a strong,
clear constitution for Egypt to protect the achievements of the revolution and lay
foundations for a prosperous future, pointing to the Tunisian experience, and
emphasizing that Egypt has experience and efficiency to make a model
constitution. 

Over the two days, there were extensive and deep discussions among
the participants, who included: Counselor Ahmed Mikki, Deputy Chief Justice of
the Court of Cassation; Counselor Hisham Jnaina, Chief Justice of the Court of
Cassation; Judge Azhar Kashilia, from the Court of Appeals in South Africa;
Wilder Taylor, Secretary-General of ICJ; Amru al-Shalqani, Professor of Law at
the American University; and Abdullah Khalil, a lawyer in the Court of
Cassation. 

It is worth noting that PCHR is a member of the ICJ, and Sourani is
a member of the ICJ Executive Committee. 
The ICJ is an international non-governmental
organization devoted to the promotion of the understanding and observance of
the rule of law as well as the promotion and protection of human rights
worldwide.  It has branches in more than
60 countries worldwide. 

At another level, on Tuesday, 7 February 2012, Sourani met with the
Secretary-General of the Arab Lawyers Union, Omar al-Zain, and members of the
permanent office of the Union, in Cairo. 
The meeting discussed future cooperation between the Union and PCHR,
especially in common issues relating to the Palestinian cause, such as
prosecution of Israeli war criminals, and other issues relating to the
Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.