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Al-Ahram Weekly

Egyptian human rights bodies, UN officials discuss bolstering cooperation in Cairo - Society

A consultative meeting was held in Cairo on Thursday, bringing together key figures from Egypt's human rights landscape and a delegation from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) hosted the meeting, in which the Human Rights Committee of the Egyptian House of Representatives participated, according to a statement by the NCHR. The gathering aimed to strengthen collaboration and align efforts in advancing human rights within Egypt's legal and strategic frameworks. According to the statement, the discussions also focused on national efforts to strengthen the human rights system, particularly in terms of engagement with international mechanisms to enhance the role of national human rights institutions. The meeting also highlighted ongoing cooperation between the Egyptian parliament and the NCHR in responding to recommendations issued by international mechanisms. The statement explained that this cooperation aims to enhance the NCHR's independence and ensure its full compliance with the Paris Principles. Furthermore, the participants in the meeting discussed implementing the pillars of the National Human Rights Strategy, launched in 2021, and developing the legislative and institutional structure relevant to it. They also discussed the parliament's human rights committee's role, as monitor, overseer, and legislator, in addressing citizen complaints and strengthening communication channels with the National Council for Human Rights and civil society, read the statement. Moreover, the meeting addressed technical cooperation between the UN body and the Egyptian side, particularly in the areas of parliamentary capacity building, training on evaluation and follow-up mechanisms, and disseminating a culture of human rights. It emphasised, the statement continued, the importance of continuing constructive dialogue and joint coordination, as well as the need to provide technical support to stakeholders involved in promoting and protecting human rights. The OHCHR delegation included Jonny White, a Human Rights Officer at the Division of National Institutions and Regional Mechanisms in Geneva, and Zein Ayoub from the Middle East and North Africa Office. Attendees from the Egyptian side, the statement went on, included Mahmoud Karem, Chairman of the NCHR, and Hani Ibrahim, Secretary-General of the NCHR. A parliamentary delegation led by MP Tarek Radwan, Chairman of the Human Rights Committee, included MP Mohamed Abdel Aziz, Deputy Chairman of the Human Rights Committee, and MP Nancy Naim, a Member of the Human Rights Committee. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link: