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Al-Ahram Weekly
17-07-2025
- Politics
- 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:
Ya Biladi
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Amina Bouayach calls for enhanced cooperation between human rights institutions at UN council
مدة القراءة: 2' The President of Morocco's National Human Rights Council (CNDH), Amina Bouayach, has called for «effective coordination and sustained cooperation» between national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and reporting and monitoring mechanisms. Speaking at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, July 4, Bouayach advocated for a complementary approach, «more essential than ever to ensure the robustness, continuity, and legitimacy of systems for protecting fundamental rights». In her capacity as both CNDH President and head of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), Bouayach emphasized the need for «clear political will and a shared commitment to building renewed bridges between local dynamics and universal mechanisms». Such reflection, she noted, is «all the more necessary as it helps identify shared challenges, better understand obstacles hindering our mandates, and mobilize the resources needed for NHRIs to fully carry out their role». Guaranteeing human rights, she added, «is not merely a matter of transposing legal texts». «Above all, it is about defending human dignity in all its dimensions—preventing violations and responding, with both rigor and humanity, to the concerns of citizens, institutions, and non-state actors». In a context marked by «the erosion of multilateralism, budgetary constraints, geopolitical tensions», and growing skepticism around the very universality of human rights, Bouayach argued that cooperation must be anchored in «a coherent action framework». The goal, she said, is to «prevent violations, strengthen protection, and effectively promote human rights». Citing a GANHRI study, she outlined four types of national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up (NMIRFs): ad hoc, ministerial, interministerial, and institutional. She stressed the need for «structured dialogue between NHRIs and national mechanisms with clear mandates, to ensure synergy, efficiency, and shared governance». «When NHRIs enjoy real independence, in line with the Paris Principles, they are able to fully exercise their threefold mission: prevention, protection, and promotion of human rights», she concluded, reaffirming that «human rights are not optional—they are the indispensable foundation of any just and resilient society».
Ya Biladi
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Amina Bouayach calls for enhanced cooperation between human rights institutions at UN council
The President of Morocco's National Human Rights Council (CNDH), Amina Bouayach, has called for «effective coordination and sustained cooperation» between national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and reporting and monitoring mechanisms. Speaking at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, July 4, Bouayach advocated for a complementary approach, «more essential than ever to ensure the robustness, continuity, and legitimacy of systems for protecting fundamental rights». In her capacity as both CNDH President and head of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), Bouayach emphasized the need for «clear political will and a shared commitment to building renewed bridges between local dynamics and universal mechanisms». Such reflection, she noted, is «all the more necessary as it helps identify shared challenges, better understand obstacles hindering our mandates, and mobilize the resources needed for NHRIs to fully carry out their role». Guaranteeing human rights, she added, «is not merely a matter of transposing legal texts». «Above all, it is about defending human dignity in all its dimensions—preventing violations and responding, with both rigor and humanity, to the concerns of citizens, institutions, and non-state actors». In a context marked by «the erosion of multilateralism, budgetary constraints, geopolitical tensions», and growing skepticism around the very universality of human rights, Bouayach argued that cooperation must be anchored in «a coherent action framework». The goal, she said, is to «prevent violations, strengthen protection, and effectively promote human rights». Citing a GANHRI study, she outlined four types of national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up (NMIRFs): ad hoc, ministerial, interministerial, and institutional. She stressed the need for «structured dialogue between NHRIs and national mechanisms with clear mandates, to ensure synergy, efficiency, and shared governance». «When NHRIs enjoy real independence, in line with the Paris Principles, they are able to fully exercise their threefold mission: prevention, protection, and promotion of human rights», she concluded, reaffirming that «human rights are not optional—they are the indispensable foundation of any just and resilient society».
Mada
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Mada
Former rights council member: Moushira Khattab's resignation is ‘belated attempt' to sidestep poor performance
Moushira Khattab has stepped down as president of the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) as she intends to pursue a role at an international institution, the council announced on Sunday. Former council member Nasser Amin, however, described the move to Mada Masr as a belated attempt by Khattab to 'wash her hands' of what he said was the council's worst performance in two decades. The council was reconstituted by presidential decree in 2021, as the government worked to stage a shift in how it handles rights and political representation, launching a national human rights strategy, reopening the council, which is tasked with nominating prisoners to the president for amnesty among other roles, and beginning the National Dialogue as a forum for political dialogue. In a phone call with Mada Masr, Khattab declined to comment on the statement or name the international institution she intends to join. A source close to the former council head, however, denied to Mada Masr that her resignation had nothing to do with Khattab's future career plans. Since Khattab has already had a long career, an international appointment is unlikely, the source continued. They described her resignation instead as a long overdue development, adding that through her four-year tenure on the council Khattab has repeatedly voiced frustration over her inability to effect meaningful change in any of its human rights working files. The source cited Khattab's repeated but unsuccessful attempts to amend the law that governs the council in order to elevate its international ranking, as well as several requests she made to visit prisons which were ultimately rejected. Prison visits are permitted rarely, and often only to limited areas of specific facilities under authorities' supervision. The source put the lack of achievements down to the council's political position, describing it as lacking any real leverage. Its recommendations are often ignored, they added. Khattab was also increasingly troubled by the frequent criticism directed at her from various circles, the source said. Amin, who also heads the Arab Center for the Independence of Judiciary and Legal Professions, warned that the council is very likely to face a downgrade in its international ranking by the end of the year, citing its lack of independence and retreat from its monitoring and advocacy role. 'The talk of her seeking an international post is more wishful thinking than reality,' he said. On November 20 last year, the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) at the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) recommended the council be downgraded to B status, raising serious concerns about its compliance with the Paris Principles — particularly in terms of its independence, effectiveness and transparency. The SCA flagged the lack of transparency and public participation in the appointment of council members — who are selected by the executive arm of the government — as a factor undermining the body's autonomy and ability to operate free from government interference. It also criticized the council's inadequate response to major human rights concerns, including torture, enforced disappearances, conditions of arbitrary detention, as well as with regard to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. The committee also called for sweeping reforms to bring the council in line with the Paris Principles, including measures to reinforce its independence, amend its appointment mechanism, improve its response to human rights violations and ensure regular distribution of public reports for civil society and other actors to access. Khattab has previously pushed back against claims that the council lacks independence. In a televised interview in September 2024, she said the council had submitted a request for a presidential pardon for writer and activist Alaa Abd El Fattah, but claimed that the council had been drawn into the issue of its pending downgrade by a complaint questioning the council's independence filed by the writer's father-in-law, prominent human rights advocate Bahey Eddin Hassan. Domestic and international calls are currently mounting for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to pardon the detained activist and writer — whose mother is now hospitalized in critical condition 246 days into a hunger strike. Khattab had confined her efforts as council head to 'safe zones,' Amin said. She focused on awareness-raising and human rights education while steering clear of applying legal and human rights standards to document violations. Instead, he added, she echoed the narrative advanced by the state and its security agencies. The constitution grants the NCHR the power to represent victims in court — a power exercised by previous iterations of the council, including in the case of activist Shaimaa al-Sabbagh's killing. The current council, however, has ignored this mandate, which Amin said was a hard-earned achievement of earlier efforts. Vice President Mahmoud Karem assumed Khattab's responsibilities as of Saturday, the council's statement said, and he will continue in the role until its term ends on December 27. Sisi reconstituted the council under Khattab's leadership in December 2021 for a four-year term. Under recent amendments to the law governing the NCHR, the House of Representatives is permitted to begin forming a new council two months ahead of the current term's expiration. Nominations are to be submitted by universities, syndicates and other institutions, after which the president and members are selected and approved via presidential decree.
Morocco World
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
35 Years of CNDH: Morocco Reaffirms Commitment to Human Rights
Rabat – 35 years ago, Morocco took a bold step. Long before global standards emerged, the country established its first national human rights institution on May 8, 1990, laying the groundwork for what would become a key pillar in its governance landscape. This week, the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) marks that turning point. The anniversary speaks not only to the passage of time, but to the country's steady shift toward greater accountability, justice, and rights protection. The Council's president, Amina Bouayach, sees this moment as more than symbolic. 'We are looking back on a path of transformation, but also of construction. Morocco changes constantly, so must we,' she said. What began as a modest advisory body has grown into a constitutional institution with regional branches and a far-reaching mandate. Since 2018, the Council has operated with expanded powers to address violations, support victims, and defend freedoms. Morocco had already taken this path in the early 1990s, three years before the UN adopted the Paris Principles that define how human rights institutions should function. That early move, Bouayach said, reflected a national decision to address past abuses and build a system based on truth, justice, and reconciliation. The country marked the 20th anniversary of that process earlier this year. Over the years, the Council has played a role in major reforms: from restructuring the justice system and revising the Constitution to observing elections and launching discussions around Morocco's Family Code. 'We are not outside of national dynamics, we stand in the middle of them,' Bouayach explained. Under the slogan '35 Years: Rights. Freedoms. Effectiveness', the Council plans to mark the anniversary throughout 2025. The goal is to reinforce the rule of law, support victims where needed, and ensure that rights do not remain theoretical but become real and enforceable. Morocco's human rights body asserts that it stands on principles of independence and accountability. But it also carries a story, one of political will, institutional learning, and the belief that no reform holds weight unless it protects human dignity. Tags: CNDHCNDH Morocochuman rightsmorocco human rights
