Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR-N) - The library Norwegian Centre for Human Rights Establishing the first state of the art human rights library in Egypt - a cooperation project between NCHR-N and NCHR-E

Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR-N) - The library Norwegian Centre for Human Rights 2 Presentation of an Egypt-Norway library cooperation project Actors and partners 2.National Institutions 3.Background 4.Application procedure 5.Objectives and activities 6.Target groups 7.Tools of cooperation and reporting procedures 8.Status 9.Lessons learned Agenda

Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR-N) - The library Norwegian Centre for Human Rights 3 NCHR from Cairo to Oslo NCHR Director Mads Andernæs welcomes the NCHR-E Head Librarian Sahar Rabie

Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR-N) - The library Norwegian Centre for Human Rights 4 1. Actors and partners Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR-N The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR-E Director Mads Andenæs The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign affairsThe Egyptian Embassy in Norway

Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR-N) - The library Norwegian Centre for Human Rights 5 2. National Institutions (NHRI) NHRI established based on The UN “Paris Principles” Recommends that States establish an independent national institution for human rights, with the primary objective of assisting with consultancy, studies and information related to implementation of the internationally agreed human rights. UN Human Rights Commission Resolution 1992/54 and General Assembly Resolution 48/134,1993 As National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI), the NCHR-N and NCHR-E are part of a regional and international network of national institutions. The network is managed by an international coordination committee (International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights – ICC), which works closely with the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva. In accordance with the Paris Principles and the ICC Sub-Committee Rules of Procedure, the following classifications for accreditation of the NHRI are used by the ICC: –A: Compliance with the Paris Principles; –A(R): Accreditation with reserve – granted where insufficient documentation is submitted to confer A status; –B: Observer Status - Not fully in compliance with the Paris Principles or insufficient information provided to make a determination –C: Non-compliant with the Paris Principles Both our institutions are accredited with an A rating For more information see: National Human Rights Institutions Forum: OHCHR: Paris Principles – and

Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR-N) - The library Norwegian Centre for Human Rights 6 3. Background After several meetings and visits a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) between the two National institutions was signed in December The objective of the MoU is to facilitate joint projects to enhance respect for human rights in either country. Will be renegotiated in 2009 Further cooperation through the participation of both institutions in the Arab-European Human Rights Dialogue conferences The Dialogue is an result of an initiative made by the Danish HR institute after the incident of the Mohammad drawings –First conference arranged in Amman, April Topic: "Terrorism and Human Rights“ –The second in October 2007 in Copenhagen. Topic: ”Non- discrimination and equal treatment and how to combat discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, or gender”. –The third Conference was held in Rabat, Morocco May Topic: “HR and Migration in the two regions” Nils Butenschøn and Mokhles Kotb, Secretary General of NCHR-E. Text of the MoU at: More on the Dialouge:

Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR-N) - The library Norwegian Centre for Human Rights 7 4. Application procedure Two visits and several meetings between the two institutions held in May 2007 –In Cairo at the NCHR-E –In Oslo at the NCHR-N and at the MfA Goal: a joint application We sent an application from the NCHR-N with appendixes from NCHR-E Application sent to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MfA) July 2007 –Including two project proposals total of 1,9 mil NOK Election observation unit Support for library set up Approved October 2007 –Based on NCHR-E’s own prioritizing the MfA decided to support the library project –Total budget NOK 1,2 million –“The Ministry’s grants are lump-sum payments, and the Ministry is not obliged to provide further support for the project.”

Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR-N) - The library Norwegian Centre for Human Rights 8 5. Objectives and activities Objectives Contribute to the fulfillment of the NCHR-E's goals and functions as an NHRI Collect, organize and disseminate human rights information Serve as a national gateway to HR information Establish good network connections –with other HR libraries in Egypt and other Arab countries, as well as a few foreign countries such as Norway Activities Setting up the library –Purchase hardware (shelves and technical equipment) –Convert to the ELIS Egyptian Librararies Network – OPAC’ –Recruit and train staff –Acquire more HR documents Organize human rights information physically and virtually Arrange courses and workshops Participate in conferences and seminars The overall goal is to establish the first “state of the art” human rights library in Egypt

Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR-N) - The library Norwegian Centre for Human Rights 9 6. Target groups 1.The general public 2.Students 3.Researchers (Masters, PhD students….etc), journalists 4.Human rights institutions (both government, NGOs and CSOs) 5.NCHR-E researchers and staff 6.Interested parties who wish to be informed about the human rights situation in Egypt 7.Lawyers 8.Law drafters (some of whom are represented in the membership of the Council)

Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR-N) - The library Norwegian Centre for Human Rights Reporting procedures – tools of cooperation We use an exel spreadsheet instead of big project planning tool – (example see next page) Report to NCHR-N from Egypt every three months Working towards a standardization of formats NCHR-N final report to MfA max ½ year after finalization Web page with information on the project and Facebook(!)

Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR-N) - The library Norwegian Centre for Human Rights 11 NCHR-E input Main activ ities ite m # Acti vity no. Detailed ActivityMonthJanFebMarAprilMayJune Networking (3.a.5 Week Identifying prospected areas of cooperation 2 Approaching donors - no - NCHR- N and council only the council won't contact any other donors and the project will be executed solely by the MFA fund. Setting up the library (3.a.3) Acquiring equipment A f Market assessment for purchasing and manufacturing furniture. 4 Issue a tender A.35 Purchase of furniture shelves and chairs 6 Purchase of other equipment - Staff NCHR-E 7.d. 1 Recruitment of Staff - 8.d. 6 Visit other HR libraries in Cairo - bring assistants - part of training

Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR-N) - The library Norwegian Centre for Human Rights Status Progress and main achievements –“Hardware” shelves bought –ELIS library system member –Booklist core HR literature from Norway –Networking India (AILL) Ramallah (Libraries and HR) –Training visit to Norway –Hiring procedure underway Scheduled opening ceremony December 2008 NCHR-E the 5th and 11th floor

Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR-N) - The library Norwegian Centre for Human Rights Lessons learned - pitfalls and tips Success points –Good contact between the involved parties is the most important factor for success –Correlation between different documents, actors and stages in the project Remember while planning –“Things take time” … on both sides –National holidays, weekends on different days (Muslim vs. Christian vs. Jewish) –Possible illness and other obligations –Travel Pay close attention to and evaluate need for and length of length of visits… You might need visas – could be time consuming, expensive and complicated procedures –Budget Make room for unforeseen costs, pay and airfare rise, variable exchange rates etc. –Use standard contracts if possible Tips Use your connections - Dawson deal with UiO also for NCHR-E Talk to your network Learn from others experience More information here: