Human rights defender's story: Yara Sallam from Egypt

Yara Sallam, a dedicated member of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, works tirelessly to hold Egypt accountable to its international human rights obligations.

Specialising in engaging with regional and international human rights mechanisms such as the Human Rights Council and the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, Yara’s advocacy centers on the fundamental aspects of freedom and dignity. She believes deeply  in the rights of individuals to make their own choices regarding their bodies, beliefs, and lifestyles, advocating for the freedom to protest (peaceful assembly and association), to practice a religion or not, to choose one’s own partner, and to move freely within one’s country.

Yara’s commitment to human rights has not come without personal cost. In June 2014, she was arrested by plainclothes officers for participating in a peaceful protest and faced 15 months of detention on fabricated charges, a common tactic used against protesters to suppress their dissent. This experience underscores the severe challenges facing human rights defenders in Egypt, including crackdowns on protests and civil society organisations.

Despite these obstacles, Yara underscores the importance of human rights defenders’ presence at the international forums such as the Human Rights Council.

‘Direct engagement with Special Rapporteurs and experts from Working Groups is often the only way to inform them about the situation in the country, given the barriers in accessibility and language,’ said Yara.

She also credits the efforts of international advocacy for the release of herself and others, coinciding with the Egyptian President’s address at the UN General Assembly, as evidence of the impact the unyielding advocacy efforts of human rights defenders.

Yara’s story is a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for civil and political rights in Egypt. It highlights the need for the relentless advocacy on domestic and international levels to ensure that all Egyptians can enjoy the full spectrum of human rights. The civil society’s work, as Yara pointed out, ‘is far from over, with many still awaiting justice and freedom’. Her dedication serves as an inspiration for continued efforts towards achieving human rights goals in Egypt and beyond.