Intervention Mr. Alaa Shalaby President – Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR) Egypt’s National Strategy for Human Rights .. A Significant Milestone

Intervention

Mr. Alaa Shalaby

President – Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR)

Egypt’s National Strategy for Human Rights

.. A Significant Milestone

 Thurs 24 February 2022

 

H.E Minister Omer Marwan

H.E Minister Nevine El-Kabbaj

H.E Ambassador Khaled ElBakly

H.E Ambassador Ahmed Ihab GamalEddine

Distinguished Human Rights Colleagues

Distinguished Diplomatic Missions Representatives

Ladies and gentlemen

          I’d like to express my thanks to the Permanent Mission of Egypt for the kind invitation, and my pleasure to join this honorable gathering to discuss the future implementation of the National Strategy for Human Rights in Egypt 2021 – 2026.

        Let me start with joining hands with all those who welcomed and appreciated the strategy, its goals, framework, contents and the way forward, and let me also express my proudness for being invited by the distinguished Supreme Standing Committee for Human Rights (SSCHR) since the very beginning in March 2020 to advice on the drafting process, joining the Advisory Committee for the Strategy Drafting since August 2020, and participated in the consultations with CSOs in general and Human Rights groups in particular since December 2020.

        I was pleased to be invited to the launch ceremony last September, as well as invited along the Advisory Committee in December 2021 to elaborate on the implementation.

        However, I continue to worry that many expected steps haven’t took place yet, and some other priorities hasn’t been scheduled as should.

To be more concrete:

1. It was clear in the launch that SSCHR, National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) and CSOs will join forces to implement the strategy, and yet we haven’t seen the needed preparatory and programing meetings among the 3 parties.
2. Rather the fact I do admit that the most brilliant step was taken through not extending the status of Emergencies last October, but some trials under the status of emergencies has continued.

And while I don’t argue its legal foundation, but I do argue against the meaning, and it makes me wonder if we still have argument among the state organs.

3. While I recognize the good efforts by the ministries to establish and develop the human rights sectors/departments, I do believe it is a must to build the capacity and skills of the staff,

       Yet, I haven’t seen indicators that independent human rights activists were invited to join such efforts, if made. And based on the available qualifications in the country, I assume that the expertise of the human rights NGOs is highly needed to create the ties between human rights norms and the various entities’ specialist duties in reality.

4. I’m keen to avoid the deliberate mix between the political opposition and HRDs, but I believe that improving the human rights situation and strengthening the public believe of the strategy needs more positive steps, especially pardoning and releasing those who didn’t commit acts of physical violence, and even the crimes were concrete in violating the law without acts of violence, such pardons will remove a huge burden and give indication to a new era, Era that is based on tolerance and avail the path for promoting participation as drawn in the strategy.
5. Allow me to say that I do worry that some highly prioritized areas -we have tackled in previous years- haven’t been taken into account yet, and I do mean the proposed 2017 amendments on the Criminal Procedures act, the Free Flow of Information Law and the required establishment of the National Commission against Discrimination, and let me again stress that such commission – required by the constitution – isn’t just an “Ombudsman” as some have expressed in other symposiums.

        Finally, on behalf of the Board of Trustees of Arab Organization for Human Rights, I take this opportunity to express our faithful wishes for future prosperity and success for Egypt in its human rights march, a march which our father founders and historical leaders -from all across the Arab Countries- has believed in its remarkable positive impact.

           I also want to express my gratitude to the distinguished Government of Egypt for hosting our organization’s main office since 1983.

Thank you and best regards

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