The European Union Commissioner for Human Rights appreciates and follows with interest the efforts of President El-Sisi to advance Human Rights issues and his keenness on the growing realization of Egyptian Human Rights.

Moushira Khattab, President of the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), met yesterday, Wednesday, Ambassador Eamon Gilmore, Special Representative for Human Rights of the European Union, in Geneva, Switzerland, at the head of a delegation from NCHR that included Ambassador Dr. Mahmoud Karem, Vice President of NCHR and members of NCHR Dr. Wafa Benjamin, professor Nihad Abu Al-Qumsan, Dr. Samira Luka, Abdel-Gawad Ahmed, during the sidelines the participation of NCHR in discussing the fifth periodic report of Egypt in the 137th session of the Commission on Human Rights, which discusses the reports of Egypt, Panama, Peru, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan and Zambia regarding their implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Ambassador Moushira Khattab said that NCHR intends to build on the discussions that took place on the parallel events of these important meetings and push to strengthen the powers of NCHR so that it can play its role more effectively in monitoring national efforts that translate the National Strategy for Human Rights into tangible results and practical steps.

Ambassador Gilmore congratulated Egypt on its achievements in the field of Human Rights, particularly the promotion of women's rights and religious freedoms. The European official also affirmed the European Union's interest in economic, social, and cultural rights, just as it is in civil and political rights. He also welcomed NCHR preparation of a training manual for visits to prisons and rehabilitation centers in line with Human Rights standards for the treatment of inmates in detention centers to ensure that they obtain their basic rights.

Gilmore also welcomed the re-formation of the Presidential Pardon Committee and work on the release of prisoners, their reintegration and rehabilitation, as well as the Egyptian state's announcement of opening the way for a national dialogue inclusive of all political currents.

For her part, Moushira Khattab praised the existing cooperation with the European Union.