rights in violation of the African Charter on the basis of their sex and political opinion. They further allege that, there was differential treatment between men and women during the riot and that the main reason why the Victims were assaulted by the authorities is basically because they are women and journalists. According to the Complainants, this is evidenced by the sexual nature of the violations. At this point, the African Commission would like to refer to the AC HP R 125. Complainants initial submissions in this Communication explaining the incident that took place on 25 May 2005.30 126. In response to the claims made by the Complainants, the Respondent State refutes the allegations submitting that, the assembly of the two parties in the riots included men and women other than the Victims. It contends that there was no discrimination and that assaults were not inflicted on the Victims because they were women. 127. The Respondent State submits further that the Egyptian Constitution affirms the principle of equality between men and women and that the law provides many privileges for women to safeguard their effective participation in the community as a matter of affirmative action for the benefit of women. 128. Since the Respondent State is contesting the allegations of the Complainants, the African Commission is called upon to analyze the arguments of both parties and establish whether the assaults endured by the Victims as alleged, is discriminatory based on sex and political view in violation of Article 2 of the African Charter. 30 See paragraph 3 of this Communication. 36

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