Egypt toughens penalties for bullying people with disabilities

 

CAIRO- 4 October 2021: The Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee of Egypt’s House of Representatives approved a draft law to amend Persons with Disabilities Law to toughen the penalty for bullying people with disabilities.

 

“Bullying a person with a disability shall be punishable by imprisonment for of no less than two years and a fine of no less than LE 50,000 and not more than LE 100,000, or one of these two penalties,” the new amendment stipulates.

 

If bulling is committed by one of the victim’s relatives, or one of those  who are responsible for his upbringing, or observing him, or those who have authority over him, the penalty is punishable by imprisonment for at least three years up to five years and a fine between LE100,000 and LE200,000.

 

Penalties shall be doubled in case of repeating of the crime.

 

Disabilities in Egypt include: visual, hearing, and mobility impairment, as well as mental disability.

 

Sisi issued law no. 10 for year 2018 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on February 20, after being approved by the parliament.

 

The new law offers many commitments by the government to persons with disabilities following implementation of the new law; including Non-discrimination due to disability, or gender of the person with disabilities. And to ensure real equality in the enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in all fields, Respect their choices and how they express them by their own independent will, the right of persons with disabilities and their families to obtain all information that concerns them from all sectors.

 

The law also says that persons with disabilities shall exercise the right to education, learning, work and recreation, and in the use of public facilities and services. The right of the disabled to receive a combination of salary and pension, and the obligation to create all facilities in the country for the disabled, Adding to providing a safe environment for persons with disabilities, and not being subjected to economic, political or commercial exploitation, violence, abuse, torture, abuse, neglect, negligence, humiliating treatment or affecting any of their rights.