Egypt is committed to human rights at large as part of development strategy: Sameh Shoukry

CAIRO – 22 December 2020: Egypt is committed to the protection and enhancement of human rights, where human rights are at the heart of the state’s development strategy, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Tuesday.

Shoukry made his statement during a meeting with the Technical Secretariat of the Permanent Supreme Committee of Human Rights. He also said that “building Egyptian man” is a main drive in Egyptian policies in the framework of an integrated vision that considers human rights in its “wide and comprehensive” meaning, in a way that addresses the needs and aspirations of Egyptians citizens at large.

The formation of the committee reflects the strong political will up to the level of the head of state to respect human rights.

 

Secretary-general of the committee, ambassador Ahmed Gamal el-Din, presented the work of the committee in its first year of life, including the drafting of the first national human rights strategy in Egypt, and reports submitted to regional and international bodies on the situation in the country as well as correspondences with such entities.

Shoukry emphasized the need for more media access by the committee in multiple languages, including on social media to show the national efforts exerted regularly in regards to human rights. He said this must go hand in hand with responding to false news about Egypt.

The committee was formed per a Cabinet decree by the end of 2018 to include the Ministries of Defense, Social Solidarity, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs, Interior, alongside the General Intelligence, Administrative Control Authority, the National Council for Women, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, the National Council for Disability Affairs and the Public Prosecution.

It is mainly responsible for developing policies, programs and plans to raise awareness and build capacity in the field of human rights, alongside research, studies and media awareness campaigns to monitor, study and address human rights issues in Egypt internally and internationally so it responds allegations.