Dressed in karate uniforms and track suits, the young Egyptian women break off in pairs and begin sparring, with one kicking and punching while the other tries to block the attacks. The nearly two dozen women and girls in a small gymnasium in this city of one million, north of Cairo, are learning to fight off assailants — a rarity for women in the Arab world.

In this course, participants will increase their understanding of the psychosocial and mental health issues of refugees and learn how to implement effective interventions. Topics will include: Review of international research about the psychosocial and mental health consequences of war and violence; Implications for working with various cultures and contexts; Skills for assessment of need; Culturally sensitive interviewing skills; Methods for working with translators; Introduction to individual, family, group and community interventions, and more.

The course will cover various advanced topics in international refugee law. Topics to be covered include ethical and professional obligations while representing clients undergoing refugee status determination; the \"nexus\" requirement of the refugee definition; the expanded grounds for protection under the OAU Convention and UNHCR\'s mandate; the possibility of socio-economic \"persecution\"; the distinction between prosecution and \"persecution\"; the non-refoulement and expulsion provisions of the Convention; refugee rights guaranteed by the Convention; and, the interaction between the Convention and domestic and international human rights protections.

This course aims at giving the students a thorough overview and understanding of international law instruments pertaining to migration movements and to migrant and refugee women and children in particular. The course will have a human rights focus. The course will be structured around an examination of two groups and their rights; women and children. No single international treaty governs migration and migrants' rights, but that does not mean that there is no "international migration law".

When Egypt's new parliament convenes in early February, some members will be proposing a law to strengthen penalties against sexual offenders by increasing jail time and fines. The bill will also put more pressure on police to crack down on perpetrators by calling on them to intervene when incidents occur and not to remain passive bystanders when women demand justice.

Africa and Middle East Refugee Assistance (AMERA) is seeking a dynamic human rights professional to lead its refugee rights program in Cairo, Egypt. The Country Director, ideally an Egyptian national and an Arabic speaker, will provide overall strategic leadership for the organisation in Egypt. Application deadline: 22 February 2009.

Based on personal interviews with Palestinian families, Oroub El-Abed examines the effects of displacement and the livelihood strategies that Palestinians have employed while living in Egypt. The author also analyzes the impact of fluctuating Egyptian government policies on the Palestinian way of life. With limited basic human rights and in the context of very poor living conditions for Egyptians in general, Palestinians in Egypt have had to employ an array of both tangible and intangible assets to survive.

In this course, participants will increase their understanding of the psychosocial and mental health issues of refugees and learn how to implement effective interventions. Topics will include: Review of international research about the psychosocial and mental health consequences of war and violence; Implications for working with various cultures and contexts; Skills for assessment of need; Culturally sensitive interviewing skills; Methods for working with translators; Introduction to individual, family, group and community interventions; Overview of methods for monitoring and evaluating the impact of intervention; and Specific mechanisms workers and organizations can use to minimize staff burnout and maximize organizational effectiveness.

The course will cover various advanced topics in international refugee law. Topics to be covered include ethical and professional obligations while representing clients undergoing refugee status determination; the "nexus" requirement of the refugee definition; the expanded grounds for protection under the OAU Convention and UNHCR's mandate; the possibility of socio-economic "persecution"; the distinction between prosecution and "persecution"; the non-refoulement and expulsion provisions of the Convention; refugee rights guaranteed by the Convention; and, the interaction between the Convention and domestic and international human rights protections.

This course aims at giving the students a thorough overview and understanding of international law instruments pertaining to migration movements and to migrant and refugee women and children in particular. The course will have a human rights focus. The course will be structured around an examination of two groups and their rights; women and children. No single international treaty governs migration and migrants’ rights, but that does not mean that there is no “international migration law”.

The Journal of Muslim Mental Health has an opening for an Editorial Assistant in Cairo, Egypt, who will work closely with the Editor-in-Chief for 12 hours per week for a period of one year starting February 1, 2009. The selected candidate will be considered a research assistant or research associate at the American University in Cairo and will be listed as an Editorial Assistant on the inside leaflet of the print journal and most promotion materials. THIS IS NOT A FULL TIME JOB.

Egyptian authorities have almost fully sealed the border with Gaza, preventing delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid. "The government has expressly forbidden the entry of aid convoys laden with food into the Gaza Strip," Emmad al-Din Moustafa, member of the Popular Committee for Aiding Gaza told IPS. "The continued border closure -- like the Israeli assault itself -- constitutes a crime against humanity."

On November 23, civil society groups convened a high-level meeting in Cairo to discuss the West Delta Irrigation project, which is financed in part by a $145 million World Bank loan. The project supports the construction of an irrigation system that will divert water from the Nile to supply modern, export-oriented farms on reclaimed desert lands that have severely depleted groundwater sources.

A recent study by the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights found that 83% of Egyptian women and 98% of foreign women experience public sexual harassment in this country dependent on Western tourists, including explicit comments, groping, men exposing themselves and assault. Nearly 97% of Egyptian women and 87% of foreigners do not alert police. But human rights activists believe that the extensive news coverage of Saleh's case may inspire more women to file complaints.

The UN’s refugee agency has confirmed that ninety one African refugees expelled by the Israeli army to Egypt as part of Israel’s controversial “hot return” policy have gone missing. A spokeswoman in Cairo for the United Nations High Commission on Refugees said that Egypt has not responded to requests for information about the 91, who were returned shortly after crossing illegally from Sinai into Israel, in at least some cases without any chance to present asylum requests.“We don’t have access to this group, we do not where they are,” the UNHCR spokeswoman said

Africa and Middle East Refugee Assistance (AMERA-Egypt) seeks a highly qualified Community Outreach & Development Intern to join the Community Team. The incumbent will work closely with different refugee communities in Cairo that have various problems and needs. The Community Development Intern will work within a community based approach framework towards an ultimate goal of achieving community's self-reliance. The Intern will report to the Community Team Leader and will collaborate with members from other teams whenever required.

Soliya CEC is an educational services company based in Cairo, Egypt. Soliya uses the latest in Internet and communication technologies to bridge the divide between the "West" and the "Arab & Muslim World". Soliya is looking to hire a Program Coordinator based in Cairo who would play a key role in implementing the Soliya Connect Program and Continued Engagement Activities.

In this 90-page report, Human Rights Watch called on Egypt to halt the use of lethal force against border crossers and all deportations of persons to countries where they risk persecution or ill-treatment. Israel should halt forced returns of migrants to Egypt, where they face military court trials and possible unlawful deportation to their countries of origin. Both countries should respect the rights of persons seeking asylum.

The Observatory for the Protection ofHuman Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) welcome the decision by the Egyptian judiciary to allow the Association of Human Rights and Legal Aid (AHRLA) to continue its activities in Egypt.

Freedom House released a video examining the challenges that Egyptian bloggers face at a conference on internet governance held in Cairo, Egypt November 2-7. In the film, Egyptian bloggers speak of overcoming torture, political intimidation and censure as they push against government restrictions on freedom of expression.