President Mohamed Morsy will sponsor the first forum for civil society development and charity organizations, titled Integration, on 19 January in Nasr City, presidential spokesperson Yasser Ali said.
The forum reflects the state’s support for civil society organizations, a key part of the president’s campaign platform, Ali said, adding that the forum would include 50 different organizations.
Pressure on civil society groups during ousted President Hosni Mubarak’s regime continued through Egypt’s post-revolution transition period.
A trial is still ongoing for 42 NGO workers who were charged with receiving illegal foreign funding in 2011, provoking controversy and criticism from civil society groups.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
