Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights retains top ‘A’ accreditation

Noha Bakr

Thursday 6 Nov 2025

The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), which operates under the authority of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), has officially confirmed the continued accreditation of Egypt’s National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) at “A” status as of 5 November 2025.

The National Council for Human Rights is an independent body established in 2003 under Law No. 94 of 2003, and amended by Law No. 197 of 2017, to promote and protect human rights in Egypt.

Its mandate includes raising public awareness, receiving and investigating complaints, providing recommendations to the government, and cooperating with international partners.

The council also notifies public authorities of human rights violations and offers input on draft legislation related to human rights.

It comprises 27 members, including the president and vice president, who are recognized for their contributions to the protection of human rights.

By maintaining “A” status, the NCHR is recognized internationally as an independent and effective institution for promoting and protecting human rights in Egypt.

The accreditation reflects confidence in the council’s independence and performance, acknowledging its ongoing efforts to promote civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights; handle complaints; monitor detention facilities; engage with civil society; and foster a culture of human rights at the national and regional levels, the council said.

GANHRI’s accreditation is a peer-review process that evaluates whether a national human rights institution operates independently and meets international standards.

This process is based on the Paris Principles, a set of international standards endorsed by the UN General Assembly.

The assessment is based on the Paris Principles, a set of guidelines adopted by the UN General Assembly, which require institutions to have autonomy from government, guaranteed by law or constitution; pluralistic membership, representing diverse segments of society; and adequate resources and powers to investigate human rights violations.

There are two levels of accreditation: “A” status for institutions fully compliant with the Paris Principles, and “B” status for those partially compliant.

For the NCHR, maintaining “A” status not only confirms its adherence to international standards but also grants it the right to participate independently in sessions of the UN Human Rights Council and other UN bodies, making it an important voice for human rights on the global stage.