Egypt takes over rotating presidency of Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions

CAIRO – 29 July 2023: Egypt took over the rotating presidency of the Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI) on Saturday.

Ambassador Moushira Khattab, President of the National Council of Human Rights (NCHR), took over the presidency of ANNHRI from Ahmed Salem Ould Bouhoubeyni, president of the National Human Rights Commission (NCDH) in Mauritania and former chairman of the network.

Khattab took over ANNHRI’s presidency during the convening of the network’s conference and its 20th general assembly in Cairo, held under the title: “National Human Rights Institutions Established in Accordance with the Paris Principles: Roles and Challenges, Visions and Aspirations.”

Egyptian Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali El-Moselhi attended the conference.

The two-day conference aims to discuss the best practices and lessons learned as well as the most important challenges facing national human rights institutions.

The conference seeks to identify priorities and needs in this regard and strengthen the role of international and regional networks and organizations to support national human rights institutions.

A number of international and regional organizations as well as experts and representatives from national human rights institutions, the United Nations Development Program, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights attended the conference.

Representatives of diplomatic missions in Egypt were also present.

The conference also seeks to give a strong impetus in cooperation and coordination between all human rights institutions and bodies in the Arab world.

ANNHRI was established based on an agreement by Arab national human rights institutions during the 7th annual meeting of Arab National Human Rights Institutions held in Nouakchott in April 2011.

The agreement, known as Nouakchott Declaration, aimed at establishing the network with the aim of “promoting, developing and protecting human rights in the Arab world.”

ANNHRI’s tasks include facilitating cooperation between its members in accordance with solid partnerships with governments, international and regional organizations and civil society groups.

Egypt also took over the presidency of the network in October 2018.