Fawzi: Many legislative developments enhance the course of human rights, including amending the Egyptian Nationality Law
Counselor Mahmoud Fawzi, Minister of Parliamentary, Legal and Political Affairs, said that within the framework of the legislative developments taking place in Egypt, many important laws have been adopted, with regard to fair trial guarantees, including a law that allows appeals against rulings issued by courts. Felonies were to be reviewed at two levels in addition to the Court of Cassation, and this came in response to constitutional requirements and the demands of human rights organizations.
The Minister of Parliamentary and Legal Affairs added, in the side event organized by the Permanent Mission of Egypt in Geneva, under the title “Enhancing Political Participation in Egypt and Human Rights,” within the framework of the keenness to shed light on the Egyptian experience in the field of human rights, and to enhance positive interaction with international partners. Article (93) of the Constitution obligates the state to respect international agreements related to human rights and freedoms that are in force and have been ratified, and in this context, laws were issued related to protecting the rights of prisoners and improving detention conditions, such as Law No. (14) of 2022, which reflects the modern penal philosophy, in line with the development and establishment of a number of rehabilitation and correctional centers, and the implementation of rehabilitation programs and the integration of inmates into society after the expiry of their sentence.
The Minister explained that with regard to digital transformation, the Personal Data Protection Law was issued with the aim of protecting personal data that is processed electronically, whether partially or completely, by any holder, controller, or processor of this data, and with regard to the right to physical integrity, the executive regulations of the law were issued. Regulation of clinical medical research in March 2022. This regulation guaranteed the right of individuals to withdraw from medical research at any time without having to provide reasons, and also required that any medical research be conducted after adopting a protocol approved by the committee. With regard to the Egyptian nationality law, Counselor Mahmoud Fawzi stated that The amendments granted Egyptian mothers the right to pass on their nationality to their children, ensuring equality between… Both genders.
With regard to non-governmental organizations, Mahmoud Fawzy stressed that Egypt seeks to facilitate Its work, as the executive regulations of the Law Regulating Private Work were issued in January 2021. In addition, Law No. 23 of 2022 was issued, which extended the grace period for non-governmental organizations to comply with the provisions of the aforementioned law, and it was also The National Alliance for Civil Development Work law was issued. As a result of these steps, the culture of volunteering has become familiar in Egypt, as young people have become more keen to participate in volunteer activities, and state institutions give priority to those who have volunteer experience. The Minister of Parliamentary and Legal Affairs continued, during his speech to the guests, that the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood has been restructured according to a law to strengthen its legal status and expand the scope of its work in protecting women and children, and the Elders’ Rights Care Law was issued to protect the rights of the elderly and prevent them from being exposed to abuse as they age, and the law is also subject to The rights of persons with disabilities are subject to continuous review and amendment, which reflects Egypt’s vision of this vulnerable group and shows great appreciation and respect for them.
He stated that these legislative amendments seek a careful balance between considerations constitutionality and the needs and requirements of society, adding: " There may not be enough time to review all developments in this context, but I can assure you that modernizing the legislative framework is a fundamental approach adopted by Egypt. Therefore, the government has submitted to Parliament several draft laws related to human rights, which are linked to the implementation of the recommendations that Egypt accepted during the session. precedent of the periodic review mechanism Comprehensive".
The event attracted wide attention from delegations of countries and offices of relevant UN bodies in Geneva, where a group of representatives of countries and those bodies participated. The side event witnessed an interactive dialogue of questions and answers, where attendees had the opportunity To discuss the topics at hand, and raise their inquiries about the government’s role in promoting human rights and political participation in Egypt.
< p> The attendees praised the steps taken by Egypt to enhance national dialogue and political participation, while affirming their support for Egypt to continue these efforts to ensure the promotion of human rights and support the democratic process.
