NCHR welcomes int'l human rights recommendations for Egypt - Foreign Affairs

Al-Ahram Weekly

02-07-2025

The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) welcomed the international recommendations presented to Egypt as a vital opportunity to reinforce the country's commitment to the international human rights framework and foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and institutional reform.
This came during the NCHR's participation in the session on the adoption of Egypt's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) outcome, held during the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
During the session, Ambassador Mahmoud Karem, chair of the NCHR, noted that the legal frameworks governing public freedoms, particularly freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, must continue to evolve under the Egyptian constitution and relevant international human rights conventions.
He also stressed the importance of enabling journalists and media professionals to work freely in a safe and pluralistic civic space. This should be supported by constitutional guarantees and the rule of law, ensuring the free flow of information and promoting diversity in public discourse.
Moreover, the NCHR reaffirmed its support for a comprehensive review of the death penalty. It advocated for limiting its application to the most serious crimes, stressing that it should be executed in full compliance with fair trial guarantees.
It also called for a substantial review of the Code of Criminal Procedure to adopt a more comprehensive and rights-based approach to addressing allegations of torture, reinforcing a national culture that does not tolerate impunity.
Furthermore, the NCHR stressed the urgency of reforming the criminal justice system by reducing pretrial detention periods and institutionalizing alternative legal measures, an issue previously highlighted in the council's policy paper submitted to the National Dialogue sessions.
It also urged rigorous judicial oversight of detention facilities and accountability for those involved in any violations within these facilities.
As part of its long-term vision, the NCHR recommended extending Egypt's National Human Rights Strategy to 2030.
The proposed extension should be based on clearly defined implementation mechanisms, measurable quantitative and qualitative indicators, and inclusive partnerships with all stakeholders, including executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as civil society organizations.
Such a framework would facilitate continuous evaluation, institutional development, and evidence-based policymaking.
The NCHR also highlighted the need to amend its founding law to enhance its independence and respond constructively to the observations previously presented by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.
It confirmed that it had submitted a formal report outlining the steps already taken to reinforce its independence and operational effectiveness as Egypt's national human rights institution.
Additionally, it renewed its call for establishing an independent national anti-discrimination commission, an initiative it previously proposed as part of its broader agenda to promote equality, social justice, and empowerment of marginalized communities.
Ambassador Karem also highlighted the importance of continuing to modernize Egypt's legal and institutional frameworks to protect human rights, ensuring complete alignment with the country's international obligations and constitutional principles.
He reaffirmed the NCHR's unwavering commitment to advancing the new recommendations and collaborating closely with both domestic and global partners to enhance Egypt's human rights trajectory.
"Egypt's active engagement in the Universal Periodic Review process represents a genuine opportunity to foster a robust culture of human rights, strengthen national capacity, and achieve significant progress in this essential area of governance and reform," he concluded.
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