Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry said that Egypt adopted a comprehensive approach to the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as it has been able to achieve remarkable progress in the promotion of civil and political rights and fundamental freedoms.
The minister’s statement came in a recorded speech presented at the high-level segment of the 49th session of the Human Rights Council this week.
Shoukry added that the session was being held in parallel with many developments relating to the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Egypt.
He stressed that this is done through a genuine partnership with civil society organisations with the aim of establishing a new republic that upholds the values of democracy, the principles of human rights, and the rule of law.
“This culminated recently in the launch of the first national human rights strategy under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, a purely national initiative that came about after extensive consultations with civil society organisations,” he added.
Furthermore, the FM said that the right to freedom of association has undergone significant development in Egypt.
He also noted that President Al-Sisi declaring 2022 as the ‘Year of Civil Society Organisations’ is an indication of the importance the Egyptian state attaches to NGOs as a key partner in the development process.
Egypt has taken firm steps to promote the right to freedom of religion and belief and to uphold the values of citizenship, tolerance, and dialogue.
The law regulating the construction and repair of churches regulates the status of more than 2,162 churches and service buildings as well as 74 new churches, he said.
Additionally, he referred to the achievements made to empower and protect women from discrimination, violent crimes, and harassment in light of the importance the Egyptian state attaches to the promotion of women’s rights.
Shoukry also highlighted the great efforts made by the government to ensure citizens’ enjoyment of their economic, social, and cultural rights. This comes within the framework of a comprehensive national development strategy embodied in Egypt’s 2030 Vision for the provision of adequate housing; infrastructure; the extension and development of water sources, sanitation, electricity, and road networks; and the improvement of health and education systems, he said.
“The provision of basic social services, integrated social protection programmes, and the economic empowerment of citizens without discrimination is all being done through several important presidential initiatives.”
“Among these initiatives are the Decent Life, Solidarity and Dignity, and 100 Million Health Initiatives,” he added.
This comes in parallel with the due attention being given to stakeholders and those with special capacities as well as the adoption of an integrated plan to mitigate the economic and social impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
The minister stressed that the promotion of human rights is a cumulative and continuous process, as no country can claim to have reached its end or attain its completion. This is in addition to the absence of a unified pattern that everyone can follow.
He added that each country sets its priorities and the means to deal with any challenges it faces in light of the different reality and circumstances that confront it.
The FM concluded by noting that multilateral action should be based on consensus, dialogue, non-politicisation and selectivity, and the non-imposition of controversial visions and concepts that inhibit human rights work and impede the achievement of its desired goals.
“Human rights issues should be addressed with precision, and the use of incorrect information that is unsubstantiated in order to achieve goals that have nothing to do with the promotion of human rights should be avoided,” he stressed.
Furthermore, Shoukry expressed his eagerness to see how the Human Rights Council will play its role in assisting states in ensuring the enjoyment of all human rights by their citizens without discrimination; promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence; renouncing discrimination, racism, and hate speech; and fostering respect for the religious, cultural, and value specificities and differences of societies without superiority.
