Signing of BRIDGE Project in Egypt

The document was signed by Mokhles Qotb, Secretary-General of the Human Rights Council, Mahi Hassan Abdel Latif, Director of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and James Rawely, Resident Representative of UNDP.

The ‘Bridge’ project aims to increase awareness of electoral procedures and support the National Council for Human Rights observation unit.

The project would provide training to members of the Higher Elections Committee, officials of the Interior Ministry, judges, media personnel, political parties and civil society, in addition to future ‘Bridge’ trainers.

Rawely said the project is an actor in elections held in all parts of the world, as it considers free and fair elections as a pillar of democracy and the development goals of the millennium.

He noted that UNDP electoral assistance is designed to give long-term support to the electoral systems and processes that will strengthen democratic societies and institutions, with a view to forming a permanent and independent administration for elections.

Ambassador Qotb said there are 2500 trainees in more than twenty countries since the launching of the project in 2001, and that ‘Bridge’ is much needed.