President El-Sisi reviews human rights strategy report

CAIRO- 6 August 2024: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Badr Abdel Atty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Egyptians Abroad, who presented the second executive report on the National Human Rights Strategy.

The report highlighted all initiatives, programs, and projects implemented across the four pillars of the strategy. These initiatives, developed through a purely Egyptian effort, aim to improve the comprehensive human rights situation, including political, civil, economic, social, and cultural rights.

The strategy also focuses on enhancing the rights of women, youth, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities by developing relevant legislative and institutional frameworks, promoting human rights culture, and building capacities within all state agencies.

Presidential Spokesperson Counselor Ahmed Fahmy stated that the Foreign Minister noted this year saw the completion of human rights units in ministries and national bodies, the formation of committees to address complaints from people with disabilities, and the establishment of units to combat violence against women.

Additionally, numerous human rights-enhancing legislations were amended or enacted, including laws on Egyptian nationality, the establishment of the "Capable with Different Abilities" fund, and the National Alliance for Civil and Developmental Work and Rights of the Elderly.

The government also proposed amendments to human rights-related bills and signed several cooperation protocols between national entities, national councils, international governmental organizations, and civil society organizations to promote human rights culture. Workshops and training sessions were organized for state administrative workers to achieve these goals.

The Presidential Spokesperson added that President El-Sisi praised the efforts of the Permanent Higher Committee for Human Rights and all national bodies, directing them to intensify their work in the coming period. He emphasized completing the targets of the National Human Rights Strategy, enhancing the overall human rights situation, ensuring citizens enjoy their constitutional rights, and establishing the principles of citizenship, rule of law, and non-discrimination.

The President also called for increased efforts to overcome related challenges and continue updating the institutional and legislative framework to ensure real and sustainable improvement. This includes integrating the strategy's targets into the state's general strategies, plans, and policies and continuing programs aimed at raising awareness of rights and duties.