Part of the meeting between Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights Olof. Photo courtesy of Egyptian Foreign Ministry Facebook page.
According to a statement from the Egyptian foreign ministry on Tuesday, Abdelatty criticised the international community’s inconsistency, highlighting the stark human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories,
He noted the reluctance of countries that advocate for freedom to seriously confront these violations and the ongoing breaches of international humanitarian law.
The meeting, held as part of the ongoing constructive dialogue between Egypt and the European Union, focused on various topics, including promoting and respecting human rights.
Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s hope that the EU would objectively assess its human rights landscape advancements and convey these developments to European governmental and parliamentary bodies, the statement noted.
He reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to continue its national efforts to improve human rights, despite economic challenges and a turbulent regional environment.
Egypt’s top diplomat emphasised that the country’s progress in human rights is rooted in a strong national political will to meet citizens' aspirations and uphold its international commitments.
He highlighted Egypt’s holistic approach to human rights, which seeks to promote and protect all rights equally, without prioritising civil and political rights over economic, social, and cultural rights, including the right to development.
Minister Abdelatty outlined the significant progress Egypt has made in recent years to improve human rights, particularly since the launch of the first comprehensive National Human Rights Strategy.
He highlighted the publication of the second report on the strategy’s implementation, with a third report in preparation.
Abdelatty emphasised that the reforms achieved in a short period are unprecedented, including enhancements to Egypt's institutional and legislative framework.
This includes drafting a new Criminal Procedure Law, reactivating the Presidential Pardon Committee, launching a national dialogue, advancing women’s empowerment, and promoting religious freedoms.
Abdelatty also underscored the state’s commitment to fostering partnerships with civil society as an essential partner in improving citizens' welfare and supporting their rights.
He also discussed Egypt’s economic and security challenges, particularly with the rising number of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, which places strain on the state budget and essential services.
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