Combined photo of, from left to right: NCHR Vice-chair Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat, NCHR Member Ezzat Ibrahim, and NCHR Chairman Ahmed Ihab Gamaleldin
Veteran diplomat Gamaleldin, a former assistant foreign minister for human rights, succeeds Mahmoud Karem, who had overseen the council after Moushira Khattab's resignation in June 2025.
The House of Representatives endorsed the reshuffle on Monday, naming Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat, head of the El-Sadat Association for Social Development and Welfare, as vice-chair.
The new 25-member council includes journalists, academics, and civil society figures.
Among them are Ezzat Ibrahim, editor-in-chief of Al-Ahram Weekly; Wafaa Binyamin of Caritas Egypt; Samira Louka, general director of the Dialogue Sector at the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services; Ghada Hammam, a regional director at a Swedish foundation; and Ayman Jaafar, a population and migration consultant at the League of Arab States.
Also appointed are Mohamed Mamdouh, chairman of the Egyptian Youth Council for Development; Mahmoud Bassiouni; Alaa Shalaby, chairman of the Arab Organization for Human Rights; Saeed Abdel Hafez, chairman of the Forum for Development and Human Rights Dialogue; and Amr Fouad, professor of constitutional law at Tanta University.
The formation further includes Ehab Iskandar, chairman of the Ehab El-Tamawy Legal Foundation; Ayman Abdel Wahab, chairman of the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies; Nasser Abul Oyoun, chairman of the Human Rights Association for Community Development; Mahi Hassan; and Vivian Mourad, a human rights expert.
Other members are Gamal Maher Keshky, editor-in-chief of Al-Ahram Al-Araby; Mohamed Osman, head of the Human Rights Unit at the State Information Service; Sherine Farag, programme director at the German Agency for International Cooperation; Yara Qassem, director general for engagement with international mechanisms at the NCHR; Khaled Zakaria, director of the Comprehensive Political Studies Center at the Institute of National Planning; Huwaida Adly, board member of the Egyptian Foundation for Development; Mai El-Talawy; Ayman Aqeel, chairman of the Maat Foundation; and Ahmed Bakry, chairman of the Egypt Foundation for Refugee Rights.
Established in 2003, the NCHR is mandated to monitor and promote human rights, receive complaints, propose legislative amendments, and engage with international mechanisms.
In November 2025, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) renewed the council’s “A” status accreditation, which certifies compliance with United Nations (UN) standards on independence and effectiveness. The alliance operates under the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR).
Gamaleldin has previously served as Egypt’s ambassador to Morocco and as permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva. He also acted as secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Permanent Committee for Human Rights, the government body tasked with coordinating the country’s engagement with international human rights mechanisms.
The reshuffle comes as Egypt faces continued scrutiny from international rights groups over civil liberties and political freedoms, issues the council is formally mandated to address.
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