(AFP File Photo)
By Fatma Khaled
Interim prime minister Hazem El-Beblawi has agreed with several human rights organisations’ plans for the coming period, including ideas to support the economy and tourism, said a cabinet statement on Monday.
The statement said that the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) met with El-Beblawi on Monday in efforts to discuss the council’s activities and developments,
It added that the government is willing to support all suggestions that would further develop NCHR and assure its full independence in achieving its goals.
The Egyptian Union for Human Rights (EUHR) had discussed their vision for tourism, the economy and “the reality of the current situation in Egypt” with El-Beblawi in a Sunday meeting.
EUHR head Naguib Gabriel said the group suggested sending a delegation from the union to Europe to “explain the reality in Egypt” on 4 September.
“The delegation will be able to deliver the other side of the picture to the foreign community and explain that Egypt is combating real terrorism that continues to threaten Egyptians,” said Gabriel.
He also added that EUHR will promote an initiative calling on Egyptians abroad to spend Christmas holidays in Egypt to reassure other foreigners of stability in the country and encourage further tourism.
Gabriel added that EUHR urged the government to set an EGP1,400 minimum wage, to be discussed with the finance minister and several financial institutions for implementation.
El-Beblawi had previously issued a decision to reshuffle the NCHR, producing a list of new council members and appointed former minister of information Mohamed Fayek as council chairman, who had previously served as the council’s deputy chairman and as chairman of the Arab Organization for Human Rights.
