Exclusive: The Egyptian memorandum to the Human Rights Council in Geneva

The Egyptian newspaper of “albawaba news” obtained the text of the Human Rights Report in Egypt, which was sent by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The report states that Egypt underwent the second periodic review during the twentieth session of the Human Rights Council in 2014, during which it received 300 recommendations, 223 of which were accepted in full, and 24 recommendations in part, which represented 82.4% from the received recommendations.

In the context of ensuring effective cooperation with United Nations human rights mechanisms, Egypt issued report for the half-term (voluntary) to reflect what has already been achieved after half a period of time before the submission of the third periodic report in 2019.

This report issued after a comprehensive consultation involving all governmental and non-governmental bodies and representatives of civil society, to emphasize Egypt’s seriousness in the promotion and protection of human rights.

The report focuses on the State’s efforts to implement its international human rights obligations, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, the protection of women’s rights and empowerment, the rights of the child, the disabled, youth, refugees and expatriates, combating illegal migration and smuggling of migrants.

The following are some of the efforts outlined in the report, which were carried out by Egypt between 2015 and the end of 2017.

The first axis: Implementing Egypt’s obligations in accordance with international instruments and conventions on human rights

In the context of the Egyptian State’s keenness to respect its obligations under international conventions related to human rights, the Constitution stated the State’s commitment to the international conventions, that it ratified and gave it the force of law.

In this context, Egypt’s legislative structure has been full of many laws that affirm the State’s commitment to its international human rights obligations and will be reviewed in the context of the report.

The Egyptian Government is currently studying the revision of its few reservations to international human rights treaties and has already withdrawn its reservation to article 21, paragraph 2, of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, concerning the prohibition of marriage under the age of 18.

The second axis: civil and political rights

Completion of the last political roadmap at the end of 2015 with the holding of free and fair elections for the House of Representatives, followed by numerous international and non-governmental organizations and embassies.

Establishment of an independent national body with a purely judicial structure to supervise all types of elections and referendums in order to ensure impartiality, integrity and the will of voters.

The establishment of the Higher Council for Press and Information, the National Information Authority and the National Press Authority as independent entities aimed at guaranteeing and protecting freedom of the press and media. The Media Syndicate Law was also issued as a complementary framework in this field.

In 2017, the MPs turned a more advanced approach in safeguarding the right to peaceful assembly by amending the law of organizing public meetings and demonstrations by Law No. 14 of 2017.

In order to promote the rights of citizenship for all Egyptians, the Law on the Construction and Restoration of Churches was issued with a view to guaranteeing the freedom to practice religious rites.

In order to propagate the values of coexistence, tolerance, and acceptance of the other, Al-Azhar established the World Observatory to monitor all ideas and opinions of the groups of atonement and violence and to correct misconceptions in a modern manner that suits the minds of young people.

In the framework of the State’s keenness to activate the monitoring and accountability mechanisms for violations of the rights of citizens of the police force, a number of criminal and disciplinary trials have been conducted.

Statistics from 2014 to 2017 reflect the trial of 72 police officers and officers, (Torture – cruelty) and the conviction of many of the final provisions, as well as the Ministry of the Interior to prosecute the 31 officers and members of the police disciplinary.

All these confirm the State’s keenness to address these individual abuses, which are limited Extremely compared to promising Police personnel and daily dealings with thousands of citizens.