Ebram Louis
Egypt’s Minorities Remain Ostracized
Ebram Louis is an Egyptian human rights defender and advocates for women rights and minorities’ rights. He is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation Of The Victims Of Abduction And Forced Disappearance (FVAFD), a non-profit foundation that works on providing legal aid, material support and other assistance to victims of violence, assault, abduction and enforced disappearance. The organisation monitors human rights violations with a special focus on marginalized groups and religious and ethnic minorities, and combats discrimination against them. The organisation has been working since 2010.
Ebram was involved in the youth movement demanding change, during the revolution of January 25, and was one of active members in the National Assembly for Change and April 6 Youth Movement.
Since 2010, Ebram has worked to urge the Egyptian government to sign the International Convention for the Protection of Persons from Enforced Disappearance. He participated in a large number of workshops and training in the field of human rights of local and international organizations.
Due to his activity in the April 6 Movement and the National Association for Change he has been detained more than 9 times at the hands of Egyptian security forces, which have also threatened his family.
A significant crackdown on civil society in Egypt has been taking place since 2014. HRDs face an extremely challenging situation due to restrictions imposed on civil society and peaceful public gatherings and protests, travel bans, the arrest and sentencing of HRDs, bloggers, journalists and protesters, as well as an ongoing smear campaign against human rights groups. A counterterrorism law enacted in August 2015 defines terrorism in very broad terms, and is being used to restrict freedom of expression and intimidate government opponents, journalists and human rights defenders.
