On Thursday 26 January 2012, Negad El Borai met with Michael Posner - Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor -, Gayatri Patel - Human Rights Program Monitor, US Embassy in Cairo - and Matthew Hicky - Foreign Affairs Officer, US Department of State - at United Group headquarters.
At the beginning of the meeting, both parties discussed the new Law of Associations draft bill and its effect on the activities of NGOs in Egypt within the coming period, as well as recent events facing NGOs regarding foreign funding investigations.
The discussion also covered changes to Egypt after the revolution of the 25th of January and its positive effects, as well as the democratic transition that Egypt's going through. Mr. Negad praised the United States for its positive role in the democratic transition in Egypt.
In the end of the meeting, both parties stressed that the foreign funding case will be solved in court and reaffirmed their faith in the Egyptian Judiciary.
United Group organizes a discussion session in Kafr El Sheikh titled “State Identity in light of Al Azhar Document”
On Monday 26th of December 2011, United Group organized a discussion session in Kafr El Shiekh titled "State Identity in light of Al Azhar Document".
The session chair was Mr. Medhat Ashour, Head of the Bar Association in Kafr El Sheikh, with the attendance of Mr. Negad El Borai, Senior Partner at United Group and 25 participants from different religious and political backgrounds.
The discussion was divided into two sessions; the first session's topic was about the first article of the constitution, which states, "The Arab Republic of Egypt is a democratic state based on citizenship, and the Egyptian people are part of the Arab Nation striving for unity". The second session discussed the topic of the second article of the constitution, which states "Islam is the religion of the state, the Arabic language its official language, and the principles of Sharia are the main source of legislation".
The discussion was about some of the phrases contained in Articles I and II of the Constitutional Declaration, such as the importance of the statement that "Egypt is an Arab State" and whether it is better to be replaced by "Egypt is an African State" making the affiliation geographical not linguistic. The importance of the Arab Unity segment was also discussed, whether the phrase is related to the Identity of the state or a political trend that should not be included in the Constitution.
Referring to Egypt as an Islamic state may also cause a sense of exclusion for non-Muslims, and the possibility of adding to the text of Article II a segment stating that the Constitution respects all religions and beliefs that are held by the citizens of the state.
This discussion session came within the framework of the project "let's change for tomorrow" which is implemented by the United Group with the participation of Andalus Institute for Tolerance and Anti-violence and the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development.
United Group held the third meeting of series of meetings in the universities organized for Youth
Within the framework of the keenness of the United Group to raise citizens' awareness of the electoral process and democratic transition and motivate them to participate actively in the political process, As well as the belief of the importance of education and awareness and motivation of the young people to participate in the elections.
United Group held the third meeting of series of meetings in the universities on Sunday 25 December 2011 in Faculty of medicine, Mansoura University in cooperation with El Safwa Family.
The lecturer in the meeting was Dr. Amar Ali Hassan Professor of Sociology, and the meeting aims at explaining the importance of the electoral process for the students before the beginning of the third phase of elections, and in the end of the meeting Dr. Amar explained the way to choose the best candidate with attendance of 130 Medical students.
The meeting came within the frame work of the political awareness project "Let's change for tomorrow" which is implemented by the United Group with the participation of Andalus Institute for Tolerance and Anti-violence and the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and in cooperation with the students unions and families, which aims to explain and clarify the current electoral system and voting method.
United Group held two meetings on development of resources of the NGOs in Fayom
United Group held on 14th and 17th Decebmber 2011 two awareness meetings for representatives of NGOs in Fayom.
Mr. Shaaban Mohammed director of the Regional Association of NGOs in the governorate discussed the ways to develop the resources of the NGOs in both meetings, with the attendance of 24 representatives of NGOs.
These two meetings comes within the framework of the project "Empowering Civil Society" which is implanted by United Group with the support of the Australian Agency for International Development.
United Group held two legal awareness meetings on the financial aspects of the NGOs in Beni Suef governorate
United Group held two legal awareness meetings on 11th and 20 December 2011 in Regional Association of NGOs in Bani Suef.
The discussion in the two meetings was moderated by Mr. Mohammed Gamal Abd El Majed President of the Regional Association of NGOs in Bani Suef, each meeting was attended by 25 representatives of the NGOs, and the meetings targeted the NGOs in the governorate.
These meetings come in the framework of the project "Empowering Civil Society" which is implanted by the United Group with support from the Australian Agency for International Development.
