Egypt's National Dialogue recommendations to be discussed Wednesday: General Coordinator

CAIRO- 15 August 2023: The specialized committees at the National Dialogue are almost done with all recommendations that would be referred to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, who would either endorse them directly or refer them to institutions in charge, announced General Coordinator of the National Dialogue Diaa Rashwan said.

He added that the recommendation will be endorsed by the members of the National Dialogue on Wednesday, August 16, before putting them forward to the President.

The recommendations include a draft law on the practice of political rights and increasing the number of members of the parliament’s houses, and new amendments to the electoral system of the parliament, besides other draft laws on the Trade Union and Civil Work Committee, the Human Rights and Public Freedoms.

In addition, issuing a unified law on violence against women was also recommended.

The first discussion session of the societal axis of the National Dialogue was held on 18 May 2023. During the session, several suggestions were heard including amending laws and establishing a legal body affiliated with the cabinet to supervise minors' money.

The Egyptian National Dialogue kicked off early in May to bring together political forces, civil society, youth, unions and other segments of society to discuss key national issues.

The National Dialogue posted on its Facebook page Monday some figures on the sessions held in May, and that amounted to 24 discussing 14 topics.

Those consisted of 800 sub-topics and were attended by 2,060 participants and eight foreign diplomats. They were also covered by 200 local and foreign press and TV reporters.

The 14 issues were overpopulation, pre-university education, shrinkage of the industrial sector, investment climate, municipal councils bill, political parties, financial custody of minors, national identity, boosting investment in the tourism sector, social protection programs, creating a tourism map, cooperatives' challenges, electoral system, and eliminating all forms of discrimination.