The Egyptian Foreign ministry highlighted the recent achievements of Egypt in the field of human rights, pointing out the launch of the Egyptian National strategy of human rights in September 2021.

The strategy aims to adopt a comprehensive approach to human rights and fundamental freedoms.

It is in line with Egypt's efforts to establish a new republic that upholds the values of citizenship, equality, democracy, and the rule of law.

During the first year of implementing the strategy, important steps were taken and positive results were achieved despite the complex local and global circumstances (particularly the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian crisis), the Ministry said in a statement issued on Saturday.

According to the statement, Egypt’s national human rights strategy involves three tracks: legislative development, institutional development and education and capacity building in the field of human rights.

As a result of diligent work on the three tracks, much progress has been achieved in the field of civil and political rights and in economic and social rights.

Furthermore, the implementation of the strategy resulted in advancement of human rights for women, children, people with disabilities, the youth and the elderly. 

“In this context, the presidential initiatives and decrees gave a decisive incentive towards societal change and the promotion and protection of human rights, along with support for public freedoms,” The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.

In this context, the foreign ministry cited presidential decrees such as cancelling the extension of the declaration of the state of emergency, calling for the launch of the comprehensive national political dialogue, reactivating the Presidential Pardon Committee and declaring 2022 the  Year of Civil Society.

In addition, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry cited major national projects in the fields of infrastructure, localization of industry, energy security, water and food security as well as the establishment of new urban communities.

It also highlighted that the "Decent Life" initiative, which aims to develop villages in the Egyptian countryside, has also contributed to providing and improving decent livelihoods for the Egyptian people.

The ministry noted that “Decent Life” initiative coincides with both the objectives of the National Strategy for Human Rights and the "Sustainable Development Strategy: Egypt's Vision".

“What the Egyptian State achieved in terms of protecting and promoting human rights is part of a comprehensive building process, based on higher principles and values through the mobilisation of national energies in all fields, the promotion of good democratic governance, the fight against corruption, the consolidation of national identity, and the rejection of intolerance and extremist ideas.” The Ministry said.

The foreign ministry noted, however, that these achievements in human rights notwithstanding Egypt remains open to dialogue and is willing to strengthen cooperation with all partners.

Such dialogue should, however, be based on the principle of common ownership of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the ministry stressed.

Human Rights Day is celebrated every 10 December.

Its purpose is to spread awareness of and promote respect for the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.