Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Standing Committee for Human Rights Badr Abdel Aaty led the Egyptian delegation participating in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session held to discuss Egypt’s human rights record at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday.
The delegation included Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsy, Minister of Parliamentary and Legal Affairs Counselor Mahmoud Fawzi, Head of the State Information Service and General Coordinator of the National Dialogue Diaa Rashwan, along with representatives from the Ministries of Justice, Labour, as well as the Public Prosecution.
Egypt’s participation in the UPR mechanism reflects its commitment to engaging with international human rights frameworks and benefiting from global expertise. Since the establishment of the UPR mechanism, Egypt has consistently participated in all its sessions, including in 2010, 2014, and 2019, to showcase its efforts to enhance human rights.
During the session, Minister Abdel Aaty emphasised Egypt’s commitment to constructive dialogue through the UPR mechanism as a platform for mutual respect and understanding of societal norms, traditions, and values.
He outlined the achievements made under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s leadership over the past five years, highlighting advancements in human rights and fundamental freedoms despite regional challenges and crises.
Abdel Aaty noted that the progress in human rights would not have been possible without strong political will. He added that Egyptian institutions have intensified efforts since the last review to implement the accepted recommendations, guided by a national philosophy prioritising the constitutional rights of Egyptian citizens over external expectations.
The Minister detailed key milestones, including President El-Sisi’s decision to lift the state of emergency in 2021, the activation of the Presidential Pardon Committee, the launch of the National Dialogue initiative, amendments to national legislation, the closure of the foreign funding case, and the formulation of Egypt’s first National Human Rights Strategy.
He also highlighted initiatives to promote religious freedoms and renew religious discourse to combat discrimination.
Minister Abdel Aaty also reviewed Egypt’s efforts in the economic, social, and cultural rights domains, citing initiatives like the “Decent Life”, the “Takaful and Karama” programme, and the “New Beginning for Human Development” initiative, which aim to achieve comprehensive economic and social development. He emphasised advancements in protecting women’s rights, safeguarding children, supporting youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
The session featured an interactive dialogue between the Egyptian delegation and participating countries. Contributions from the Minister of Social Solidarity, the Minister of Parliamentary and Legal Affairs, and other national representatives outlined Egypt’s progress in implementing recommendations from the last UPR session across civil, political, economic, social, and cultural dimensions.
