National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) headquarters. Photo courtesy of NCHR.
The approval came during a meeting, which featured extensive discussions on several proposed amendments to the law governing the NCHR that were submitted by Radwan and 10 other members of the House of Representatives.
Key amendments include broadening the pool of nominees for the NCHR’s membership by adding the General Federation of NGOs and Civil Associations, and strengthening the Council’s mandate to monitor responses to its recommendations and proposals, in addition to reorganizing the Council’s standing committees to support the performance of its duties.
The amendments also provide safeguards for the independence of the NCHR’s members and stronger governance and transparency measures regarding the acceptance of donations and grants.
Under the proposal, grants from foreign entities would require the approval of the House of Representatives. In addition, the NCHR would be obligated to publish its annual report for public access.
The amendments further stipulate that the NCHR’s president, vice president, and members must not belong to any political party, a measure aimed at reinforcing the Council’s neutrality, independence, and effectiveness in carrying out its mission of protecting human rights.
The NCHR is expected to submit its opinion on the proposed draft law to Parliament as soon as possible, in compliance with constitutional requirements, paving the way for finalizing the bill and presenting it to the House’s plenary session.
The meeting was attended by the President of the NCHR, Ambassador Dr Ahmed Ihab Gamaleldin, Undersecretary of the House’s Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee, MP Ihab El-Tamawy, Legal Advisor to the House’s Speaker, Counsellor Mohamed Abdel-Aleem Kafafi, and representatives from the Ministries of Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
During the meeting, Gamaleldin welcomed the initiative undertaken by the House’s Human Rights Committee to develop the legislative framework and discuss the proposed amendments, emphasizing that this step reflects growing interest in strengthening the NCHR’s status.
He further noted that such a move reaffirms keenness to support the Council’s independence and enable it to exercise its mandates and powers more effectively, in line with recommendations issued by the Sub-Committee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, which evaluates and classifies such institutions according to international standards governing their work.
The NCHR’s president also affirmed the continuation of consultations with Parliament.
For his part, Radwan stressed that the amendments aim to support national human rights institutions and enhance their independence in line with the Egyptian Constitution and international commitments, thereby contributing to the promotion of a human rights culture and the protection of public rights and freedoms.
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