Parl't affairs min. leaves for Geneva to attend human rights UPR

CAIRO – 10 November 2019: Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Omar Marwan left Cairo on Sunday for Geneva, to attend the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Egypt, before the UN Human Rights Council next Wednesday.

Head of the government's National Council for Human Rights Speaker Mohamed Fayek also left for Geneva.

Marwan confirmed earlier that the government had held meetings with a number of ministries and civil society organizations to review Egypt's efforts in the field of human rights, in preparation for the Geneva session.

He also affirmed that the Egyptian government had abided by its international commitments and had implemented many of the recommendations made in the previous session in 2014.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on November 6th affirmed Egypt's support to human rights from a comprehensive perspective that includes economic, social, health, and educational rights, the Presidency said in a statement.

During the 12th periodic conference of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions held in Cairo, Sisi said that the concept of human rights was not only limited to political aspects, presidential spokesman Bassam Radi reported.

He affirmed, in this regard, the keenness to enhance efforts of continental integration, to meet the aspirations and developmental and economic ambitions of the African states’ peoples.

Radi highlighted Egypt’s pivotal role at the African work level, with the aim of improving the human rights situation in the continent.

Sisi referred to the Egypt's presidency of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions, saying that it came as part of the Egyptian State's plan to develop the form of interaction with regional and international mechanisms concerned with human rights issues.

President Sisi earlier affirmed keenness to respect human rights in Egypt, saying, in a meeting with the African Commission on Human and peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) delegation in Cairo in April, that promoting human rights is one of Egypt’s priorities in its 2030 Vision.

He also emphasized the state’s role in promoting religious tolerance, acceptance and coexistence, as well as entrenching the concept of citizenship.

As Egypt hosts millions of expats and refugees, Sisi said they practice all their rights and activities freely according to UN conventions.

The Parliament, earlier, in September, affirmed that Egypt would continue its national efforts to promote human rights and will not be dissuaded by any tendentious voices. It is well known that Egypt will submit its national report in the next few weeks to the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, and this reflects the constructive spirit of cooperation with various international partners besides Egypt’s achievements over the past four years, difficulties and hopes for the future.