No To Military Trials uses “street conferences” to raise awareness around the issue of using military trials against civilian populations in Egypt. A street conference is a public gathering in a public space to raise awareness about a specific issue by providing testimony from victims affected by the issue. The goal of this tactic is to bring the issue to the public in a new way. It aims to go beyond the discussion by traditional avenues like the mainstream media.
Raising Awareness of Military Trials in Egypt
The initiative started in July 2011. This was just a few months after the 18-day uprising which led to the ousting of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. The ousting of Mubarak resulted in the rise of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) as the sole arbiter in running the country. SCAF began the practice of bringing civilian activists to military courts for trial. In an effort to raise awareness of this human rights issue, No to Military Trials called for public gatherings to feature activists subjected to military trials by the SCAF. By raising public awareness, No to Military Trials is building public support for an end to military trials for civilians and a return of this jurisdiction to civilian judiciary.
Once organizers plan a street conference, No to Military Trial announces it through Facebook, Twitter and mass e-mails. They print posters and flyers and distribute them around the city. During the street conference, civilians previously subjected to military trials share their stories with the public.
Building Support Through Direct Community Engagement
No to Military Trials felt a positive shift in public opinion on the issue as a result of their activities. Attendance at the street conferences and support for their campaign has continued to grow.
One challenge that No to Military Trials faces in the implementation of this tactic is the backlash from the SCAF. Unfortunately, they have also had to endure negative reactions. Government-sponsored media outlets were unhappy due to their efforts to stop civilians being sent to military trials.
This street conference tactic is a creative way to raise awareness and promote a human rights issue in a context where the mainstream media cannot be utilized to share a message. Many human rights campaigns face backlash from their adversaries and the mainstream media. However, they still need to be able to build support for their cause. Organizing a street conference is one innovative tactic that can be used to bring a campaign’s message directly to the people.
Photo titled “No to military trials to civilians” by Maggie Osama on flickr. Creative Commons license. Description: People gathered in front of the military prosecutor at C28 in Nasr City in solidarity with Journalist and activist Rasha Azab and Adel Hammouda, editor in chief of Al Fagr Newspaper for publishing an article on military torture cases.
The "street conference" tactic employed by No To Military Trials demonstrates a powerful approach to raising awareness and mobilizing support for critical issues when traditional media avenues are limited or hostile. By providing a platform for victims to share their experiences in a public setting, this tactic fosters community engagement and empowers individuals to advocate for their rights. This method can be adapted to various contexts, such as environmental activism, labor rights, or social justice campaigns, where direct engagement with affected communities is crucial. For instance, environmental groups could organize street conferences to highlight the impact of pollution on local residents. Ultimately, this tactic underscores the importance of grassroots movements in amplifying marginalized voices and generating public discourse around pressing societal issues.
New Tactics in Human Rights does not advocate for or endorse specific tactics, policies or issues.
