By Seheir Kansouh-Habib Building knowledge about human rights is not a luxury. It is an absolute necessity Does Egypt meet its commitments to the Universal Human Rights Declaration proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations 58 years ago, precisely on 10 December 1948. Does it meet the Human Rights in Islam that are the premises on which our legal code is built? In his interview with Beyond, Dr Boutros Boutros- Ghali provides a panoramic overview of the status of Human Rights in which he answers the first question by providing concrete illustrations of the fact that most, if not all, of the principles embodied in the Declaration are indeed reflected in our Constitution. In her article on the Rights of Islam, masterfully written for our Readership by Dr Zeinab Radwan, we get to have concrete evidences that Islam bestows on all human beings - without any form of discrimination - human rights and a code of conduct, that surpass the Universal Declaration, conceptually and in substance. However, are we anywhere close to fulfilling the precepts of Islam and complying to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ? This year, Human Rights Day is dedicated to fighting poverty, a human right that 58 years ago all member-nations of the UN pledged to fulfill by abiding to Article 25 of the Declaration. This article reads: " Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control." A most basic need indeed! Without much ado, I will leave it to the reader to pass the necessary judgment as to whether the consecutive cabinets we had, have come anywhere near achievements they could be proud of. Our attempt in this issue of Beyond to debate the question of Human Rights was like opening a Pandora box. Though it was not possible to address all pertinent subjects, we managed to give a glimpse of what we believe is important information or are important issues that deserve to be taken seriously into consideration by all. All subjects were carefully selected and the articles were solicited from those we believe care and who are highly knowledgeable about the issue they address. As could be seen, Beyond is also opened to uncharted fields, to new or opposing ideas, to critical assessments. If we do not allow "Freedom of Expression", one of the most fundamental aspects of human rights, we will always be far from attaining any of the other rights, whatever more basic they may appear to be!
