The Public Prosecution Office issues a guideline on promoting human rights in the context of criminal justice
Based on the Public Prosecution’s adoption of a vision aimed at advancing human rights, by promoting respect and protection of all civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, guaranteed by the Constitution, national legislation, and applicable international and regional agreements, and in light of the National Human Rights Strategy; The Egyptian Public Prosecution, in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – in implementation of the memorandum of international cooperation concluded between them – issued a guide for public prosecutors to promote human rights in the context of criminal justice. The guide aims to strengthen the protection of human rights in the context of criminal justice by providing comprehensive guidance to prosecutors on how to protect human rights as they deal with criminal cases, from the investigation stages to the execution of sentences. p>
The guide focuses on emphasizing that the protection of human rights must be an integral part of criminal justice, and highlights the role of the Public Prosecution in strengthening this protection through Monitoring legal procedures and ensuring the basic rights of individuals, whether they are Defendants, victims, witnesses, or any other parties dealing with the criminal justice system.
The guide is divided into several main axes, including The role of the Public Prosecution in protecting the rights of individuals whose freedom is restricted by monitoring the environment of places of detention and limiting measures that affect their freedom, especially for groups most in need of care such as women, children, and people with disabilities. It also addresses the importance of the role of the Public Prosecution In protecting the rights of victims and witnesses by providing them with a safe environment during investigations and trials and ensuring the confidentiality of information related to them. The guide also discusses the role of the Public Prosecution in preventing and prosecuting torture and abuse of power, emphasizing the importance of investigating cases of torture and cruelty, and ensuring the dignity of detainees by imposing oversight on places of detention.
The preparation of the guide was based on national laws, what was included in the Egyptian Constitution of 2014, in addition to international human rights conventions and international best practices to guarantee the rights of those dealing with the criminal justice system. Finally, the guide provides a set of recommendations aimed at supporting members of the public prosecution in performing their role in line with best legal practices, to ensure the achievement of justice and the protection of human rights at all stages of the criminal case.
