Press contact: Sergio Rozalén (ESCR-Net) t: 1-212-681-1236

For immediate release.

New York, January 16. National Economic and Social Rights Initiative (NESRI) and the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net) invite you to the special screening of The Square, a portrait of Egyptian Revolution through the eyes of the movement’s young activists. The movie has been recently nominated for best documentary feature at the 2014 Academy Awards. The film will be followed by a Q&A with Hossam Baghat, founder of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, Board Chair of ESCR-Net and a leading human rights defender in Egypt.

When: January 23rd, 2014 7:15 PM

Where: Cinema Village 22 East 12th Street, NYC (Union Sq.)

About The Square

From Tahrir Square to Occupy Wall Street, the world has recently seen many inspiring revolutionary moments demanding equality and human rights in all areas of life, with economic justice at the center of people’s demands. Occupy Wall Street, which launched an ongoing public debate about income inequality, claimed inspiration from the Egyptian revolution and relied on advice from key leaders of the Egyptian April 6 Youth Movement. Egyptian activists used public education materials about Dr. Martin Luther King during their revolution to inspire them. Our struggles for economic and social rights are inextricably linked in this global economy. As we offer solidarity and take inspiration, we must also learn about and from one another to strengthen our mutual struggles. More info about the documentary here.

About  Hossam Bahgat

Hossam Bahgat is the founder and, for eleven years, was the Executive Director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), a Cairo-based independent organization defending human rights in Egypt. Since 2002, EIPR has used research, advocacy and litigation to defend civil liberties and political rights and promote economic and social justice and reform of the criminal justice system. With training in political science and international human rights law, Bahgat is also Board Chair of the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net), and a member of the Board of Directors of the Fund for Global Human Rights. In 2010 Bahgat received Human Rights Watch’s Allison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism.

About NESRI

The National Economic and Social Rights Initiative works in partnership with communities across the United States to build a broad movement for economic & social rights, including health, housing, education and work with dignity.

About ESCR-Net

The International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net) is a collaborative initiative of over 200 groups and 50 individual advocates from around the world working to secure economic and social justice through human rights. ESCR-Net seeks to strengthen the field of all human rights, with a special focus on economic, social and cultural rights, and further develop the tools for achieving their promotion, protection and fulfillment. Through ESCR-Net, groups and individuals exchange information, develop a collective voice, amplify their actions, develop new tools and strategies. By facilitating joint actions, enhancing communications and building solidarity across regions, the network seeks to build a global movement to make human rights and social justice a reality for all. For more information, please visit: www.escr-net.org.