A number of human rights organizations believe that Egypt has witnessed during the past year very important developments in terms of strengthening the path of reforming human rights as well as paying attention to climate issues and preserving the environment, as Egypt hosts the work of the Climate Summit COP27 during the next year 2022.
In a joint statement, the undersigned organizations welcome the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s issuance of a decision to end the decades-long state of emergency in the country, the issuance of the national strategy for human rights, and it's content of the state’s recognition of challenges facing the comprehensive implementation of international human rights conventions, and the government’s pledge to cooperate with the Egyptian parliament, both the House of Representatives and the Senate, to solve them.
The organizations emphasize that a careful reading of the national strategy indicates Egypt's tendency to build a legislative infrastructure that promotes Egyptian human rights in line with Egypt's international commitments while adhering to the features of its unique identity and its cultural and religious components.
President Al-Sisi’s designated 2022 as the year of civil society, which demonstrates Egypt’s continued openness to cooperation and partnership with civil society organizations, and the sustainability of the state of consultation and dialogue between it and national and international human rights organizations, which the signatory organizations sensed through his open dialogue with the Permanent Higher Committee for Human Rights.
The undersigned organizations have monitored Egypt’s progress in women’s and youth empowerment indicators, as women won 128 parliament seats in the 2021 elections, with a rate of more than 28 percent. In fact, Egyptian women have become judges and ministers, with a total of eight women ministers in the current government, at a rate close to 25 percent. This comes in addition to equal pay for women, without discrimination based on gender.
On the track of civil and political rights, the organizations monitored the number of positive indicators and breakthroughs in the file of those imprisoned in connection with cases of a political nature. President Al-Sisi used his right under Article 155 of the Constitution to pardon some freedom-depriving penalties on national occasions and holidays, in response to the demands from the National Council for Human Rights and human rights organizations. 56 thousand prisoners have been released under a presidential amnesty since 2015, which reflects a new philosophy from the state in dealing with prisoners, and commitment to a new punitive policy based on the idea of a second chance in life and being a part of the society for those who are not involved in crimes that affect the security and safety of the country.
This philosophy extended to the demolition of old prisons and the beginning of converting them into reform and rehabilitation centers while adhering to international standards. This was evident in the opening of the Reform and Rehabilitation Center in Wadi al-Natrun.
Although the signatory organizations understand the regional and international challenges facing Egypt, the signatory organizations demand a final closure of Case 173 and the start of a constructive dialogue based on mutual trust between state institutions and civil organizations. They additionally call for a comprehensive review of the texts of laws that conflict with international conventions related to human rights, a review of periods of pretrial detention and the creation of mechanisms to avoid such prolonged periods.
In terms of Egypt’s commitment to its international commitments through implementing the recommendations made to it by the international community and the International Council for Human Rights, it has committed to implementing the 300 recommendations requested by the 47 member states in November 2014, including 246 recommendations related to the human rights file in general, which is a high acceptance rate that exceeds 82%. Egypt is implementing those pledges voluntarily and without waiting for the recommendations issued by the international community, which reflects the desire of the political administration to implement radical reforms in the human rights file.
The organizations point to the positive developments in the course of economic and social rights with the start of the implementation of the presidential initiative, Decent Life, which responds to solving many crises related to the absence of the right to development for many years. It is estimated that the initiative’s costs exceed 900 billion EGP and aims to develop Egyptian rural villages through sustainable development projects.
The project is implemented in partnership between state agencies, civil society, development, and charitable societies and aims to improve the lifestyle, reformulate the rural villages, and bridge the development gaps between the centers and villages and their dependence.
Signing organizations
Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
The Forum for Development and Human Rights Dialogue
Arab-European Forum for Dialogue and Human Rights
The Arab Network for Digital Media and Human Rights
Arab Council for Human Rights
The Egyptian Association for Training and Human Rights
The Egyptian Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights
EshraqetAmal for Local Community Development in Giza
Arab Center for Human Rights
The Arab Institute for Studies on Democracy and Human Rights
Women and Development Association in Alexandria
Horus Association for Youth and Development in Qena
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