These statements came during the 48th session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva.
Egypt is one of 14 states to be reviewed by the UPR working group's 48th session, which will take place from 20 to 31 January.
The UPR is a mechanism that calls for each UN member state to undergo a peer review of its human rights records every 4.5 years.
Speaking at the session, FM Abdelatty highlighted that Egypt's national human rights report to the UPR reflects significant progress in addressing the recommendations made by the working group in its 2019 review.
“Egypt’s commitment to its international human rights obligations is a key part of its comprehensive national vision, which has enabled us to achieve significant progress at all levels over the past years,” Abdelatty said during his speech on Egypt’s human rights situation.
Five-pillar vision
FM Abdelatty explained that a five-pillar vision drives Egypt's progress in advancing human rights.
These pillars include adopting the country's first National Human Rights Strategy (2021-2026) under the leadership of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.
The strategy focuses primarily on improving citizens' quality of life and exercising full citizenship rights.
They also include creating an environment conducive to promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, as guaranteed by the Egyptian Constitution.
FM Abdelatty noted that these efforts to promote and advance human rights in the country were reflected in several recent decisions, including lifting the state of emergency and activating the Presidential Pardon Committee to foster national unity.
Egypt has been revising terrorism lists to offer a second chance to individuals no longer associated with terror activities, especially the youth, to reintegrate them into society, added the foreign minister.
The closing of Case No. 173/2011 in 2024, aka the foreign funding case, opened a new chapter between the government and civil society organizations, FM Abdelatty added.
Various initiatives
Egypt’s top diplomat highlighted that the Egyptian vision focuses on protecting and promoting human rights through various political initiatives, including the launching of the National Dialogue with members of the opposition and civil society representatives in 2021.
This vision places significant emphasis on freedom of religion and belief as a national priority, added Abdelatty.
Several national programs have been launched to improve living conditions for citizens and enhance social protection for the most vulnerable groups, such as the Haya Karima (Decent Life) initiative, the Takaful & Karama program, and most recently - the New Beginning for Human Building, he explained.
In his address, FM Abdelatty emphasized that Egypt has honoured its international human rights commitments by aligning its laws, policies, programs, and strategies with these obligations.
This has included amending existing laws and introducing new ones, such as a new law regulating civil society and a draft for a new Criminal Procedures Law, which is being deliberated in the House of Representatives.
“This draft law, when approved, would represent a legislative revolution in our criminal justice approach to pretrial detention regulations and durations,” Abdelatty said.
He said Egypt strengthened its institutional framework by activating the Permanent Higher Committee for Human Rights in early 2020.
Cairo has also expanded training and capacity-building programs for government officials to oversee reforming the penal system, including establishing new rehabilitation centres that meet the latest international human rights standards.
Regular participation
FM Abdelaaty added that the Egyptian vision for advancing human rights includes enhancing engagement with international and regional human rights mechanisms through sharing relevant national reports.
Egypt has participated in all previous rounds of the Universal Periodic Review since the mechanism was established, including in 2010, 2014, and 2019, noted the foreign minister.
Treating foreign nationals as equals
FM Abdelatty said at the session that Egypt has made significant efforts to ensure that foreign nationals in the country enjoy full human rights, without being forced to “live in camps or refugee centres”.
He added that Egypt has shouldered a major responsibility on behalf of the international community by hosting millions of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, currently numbering 10.7 million people from 62 different nationalities.
“Our capacity to absorb that and continue to endure is now at risk, especially due to the insufficient international support with the pressures we face,” Abdelatty added.
He reaffirmed Egypt’s stance against “forcibly relocating or displacing people, whether temporarily or permanently,” emphasizing that such actions threaten stability and hinder peace and coexistence.
Central priority
Under President El-Sisi’s leadership, FM Abdelatty said Egypt remains committed to advancing its efforts to meet the aspirations of its people for a dignified life, security, and the protection of their rights and freedoms, which are “a central priority in the new republic."
As the Supreme Standing Committee for Human Rights (SSCHR) chairman, Abdelatty led the Egyptian delegation to the UN Human Rights Council's UPR.
The delegation included high-ranking officials such as Maya Morsi, Minister of Social Solidarity; Mahmoud Fawzi, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Political Communication; and Diaa Rashwan, Head of the General Information Authority and Coordinator of the National Dialogue.
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