CAIRO — The Egyptian parliament announced Oct. 4 the formation of the National Council for Human Rights headed by Ambassador Moushira Khattab, according to Law No. 97 of 2017. The new council is expected to start working once Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi approves its new formation to the council.
Under the Egyptian Constitution and laws, the National Council for Human Rights is an independent council that aims to promote human rights and public freedoms in accordance with constitutional provisions, in light of international conventions, covenants and charters ratified by Egypt. The council will aim at consolidating their values, raising awareness of these rights and contributing to their implementation.
On Oct. 25, Sisi announced ending the state of emergency that has been in place for more than four years, considering that Egypt has become “the region’s oasis of security and stability,” days after he launched the National Human Rights Strategy on Sept. 11, and after parliament announced the new formation of the council.
Since the end of the Muslim Brotherhood’s rule in 2013, the United States, European Union and human rights organizations have accused the Egyptian authorities of violating human rights, arresting oppositionists, restricting freedoms and imprisoning thousands of detainees, which the authorities deny.
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