President Sisi reviews first executive report of the National Strategy for Human Rights

CAIRO – 12 December 2022: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry to review the first executive report of the National Strategy for Human Rights, said Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady in a statement.

The report tackles the most important national efforts to implement the National Human Rights Strategy 2021-2026, with a focus on the most prominent achievements of its objectives until the end of August 2022, Rady added.

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The report included the major national efforts exerted to implement the National Human Rights Strategy 2021-2026, with a focus on the most important achievements of its objectives until the end of August 2022. This comes within the context of the Technical Secretariat of the Supreme Standing Committee for Human Rights’ assumption of its role to implement the strategy and follow up on the progress made by the national authorities in achieving those goals, Rady continued.

The Minister noted that the first year had witnessed huge executive and institutional efforts by the Secretariat and all national actors each in its respect field. The meeting also discussed the President's initiatives, decisions and their impact on the momentum towards societal change, as well as the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the spokesperson said.

Those include the abolition of the declaration of a state of emergency, the call for the launch of a comprehensive national political dialogue, reactivating the Presidential Pardon Committee, declaring 2022 the Year of Civil Society, and pushing for women to assume judicial positions in the State Council and Public Prosecution for the first time. These initiatives and decisions aim to enhance public freedoms, particularly freedom of opinion and expression, participation in political and public life, as well as consolidate the values of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs also explained that the experience of the first year in implementing the National Human Rights Strategy confirmed that the close interrelationship between efforts to promote and protect human rights and "Egypt's Vision 2030 Strategy for Sustainable Development" serves as a key guarantor for their success together and for achieving a comprehensive impact to enhance the conditions and rights of citizens, which integrates with the progress made in the implementation of major national projects and initiatives in the areas of infrastructure development, the localization of the industry and energy, achieving water and food security, in addition to the establishment of modern urban communities among others.

President El-Sisi welcomed the efforts exerted by the Supreme Standing Committee for Human Rights, all ministries and national bodies to implement the national strategy, which was adopted last year through an exclusive national initiative. The initiative’s implementation is a priority for the Egyptian Government, given its positive impact on the advancement of the Egyptian society. The President stressed the need to further strengthen these efforts to improve the general climate of rights and freedoms in Egypt in its comprehensive sense, consistent with the provisions of the Egyptian Constitution and in implementation of Egypt's international commitments. Directives were given to the government to boost its efforts and take measures to execute all plans, programs, strategies and general policies of the state to overcome all obstacles facing the Supreme Standing Committee for Human Rights within the context of implementing the strategy.

The President stressed the need to continue the cooperation between the Committee, the various government agencies, civil society organizations and the specialized national councils to strengthen human rights-related efforts in Egypt within the framework of a constructive participatory approach.

This is in addition to continuing dialogue with States, international and regional organizations and United Nations mechanisms on human rights issues to build on the best experience and practices. This shall take place while focusing on the simultaneous implementation of all the objectives of the Strategy in its five themes to ensure achieving a significant progress in the overall climate of rights and freedoms in Egypt to consolidate the foundations of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, citizenship and non-discrimination, which are the fundamental pillars upon which the Egyptian State is established.

President El-Sisi stressed the need to continue efforts to build capacity for all workers in the various state agencies, spread the culture of human rights, and raise awareness with regard to the stipulations of the constitution and national laws, as well as Egypt's international commitments in the field of human rights and the rights and duties of every individual. He also commended the progress achieved on the path of institutional development, which resulted in the establishment of human rights units in the various state authorities. The President emphasized the need to realize more progress on the path of legislative development and to decide on the legislative amendments submitted by the committee in a way that contributes to strengthening the Egyptian legislative structure and its alignment with Egypt’s international commitments.

The President also expressed the Egyptian government's appreciation for the civil society, stressing its primary role in implementing this strategy. The President underscored the government's support for the civil society as a key partner of the Egyptian state in the development process, in light of the effective implementation of Law No. 149 of 2019 for regulating civil work.

President El-Sisi expressed gratitude for the role of the international community, emphasizing the need to involve it in the implementation of the national strategy. The President highlighted the need to encourage it to put forward initiatives to enhance efforts related to human rights and to provide the necessary facilities for the effective implementation of the law regulating the practice of civil work and its executive regulations. This aims to to provide an appropriate environment for it to work as a key partner under the rule of law.