NCHR to announce new board members

CAIRO – 17 September 2017: National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) has finalized appointing its new members, whereby it will be discussed first then approved by the House of Representatives as soon as its new session starts in October. Council's membership lasts for 4 years and it is prohibited to re-appoint a member to the Council's for more than two rounds.

House of Representatives has recently approved NCHR’s new law, which defines the role of the state-funded but independent council; as well as illustrating the structure of its board of directors and the system of appointing its members. The House of Representatives should designate NCHR’s president and vice president. The council includes another 25 members along with its secretary general and deputy who should be experts in human rights and law, representing different factions, such as national entities and professional syndicates.

According to the Constitution, laws should ensure the independence and neutrality of the council members, meaning granting legal personalities with technical, financial, and administrative independence. Article 214 of the Constitution also stipulates that “each council shall have the right to report to the competent authorities any violations pertaining to their fields of work.”

NCHR members have been concerned with several human rights issues, including the new NGOs Law and the conditions of prisoners.

According to preliminary expectations Mohamed Fayeq will continue to be the Council's secretary general. Activist Hafez Abu Saeda is going to have another membership round for council, Alaa Shalaby, secretary general of Arab Organization for Human Rights, activist Dalia Zeyada will be NCHR members. Current member Mohamed Abdel-Aziz will continue with his membership.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Al-Komy member of House of Representatives' committee for Human Rights pointed out, "NCHR is a very important entity, best calibers will be selected for council's membership."

"We need to select qualified members who can communicate and discuss human rights issues with foreign associations. For example, the recent Human Rights Watch (HRW) report made all our concern on responding and reacting to such a report. Figures as Fayek and Abu Saed are an asset to the council's membership," said Al-Koumy.

Al-Koumy revealed that the council is abiding by the new regulations. "There will be personal and professional characteristics should be in the nominee. The professional characteristic is regulated by the law, whereas the personal traits will be selected according to the best figures who serve human rights status in the country," explained Al-Koumy.

Whereas, House of Representatives member Margaret Azer stated the parliament will communicate with different vocational syndicates to send their nominations. "The parliament is considered a mediator between entities responsible for nominations and presidency association," said Azer.

Azer stressed on the fact that every nominee must be interested in human rights issues and is capable in working in such a field.