For decades, the people of North Africa and Middle East have, for the most them, been confronted with authoritarian regimes that violated their fundamental rights in a regional context that has been weakened by the Arab-Israeli conflict and the effects of
the war on terror.
Since December of 2010, in several countries in the region, the people are standing up to make their demands for social justice and individual freedom heard.
The Tunisians first, followed by the Egyptians, through lengthy protests have been able to resist repression and bring about the fall of regimes through peaceful means.
In other countries, each taking their own unique paths, the same universal aspiration for the respect of human rights is spreading and has shown the whole world that, despite the use of terror and extreme violence, fear will no longer make people silent.
In solidarity with them daily, FIDH is mobilised.