NCHR Discusses Draft Amendments to Its Governing Law

The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) held a Board meeting yesterday evening, chaired by Dr. Ahmed Ihab Gamaleldin, President of NCHR, and attended by Mr. Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat, Vice President, to discuss the draft law currently before the House of Representatives. The aforementioned draft law proposes amendments to certain provisions of Law No. 94 of 2003 governing NCHR's mandate and work.

During the meeting, Council members reviewed the principal provisions and proposed amendments contained in the draft law, as well as their potential implications for the legislative framework governing NCHR's mandate, functions, and status as Egypt's independent national human rights institution.

During the meeting NCHR agreed on drafting a memorandum setting out its institutional views on the draft law, which will be submitted to the House of Representatives for its consideration during the forthcoming stages of parliamentary deliberations on the draft amendments submitted by its Human Rights Committee.

While expressing its appreciation for the House of Representatives' commitment to strengthening the legislative framework governing NCHR, and for its continued support for national institutions and their role in the promotion and protection of human rights, NCHR emphasized the importance of maintaining constructive dialogue on the draft law in a manner that further enhances its independence, effectiveness, and ability to fully exercise its constitutional and legal mandate.

NCHR further affirmed that strengthening the legislative framework governing its work represents an important opportunity to reinforce the institutional and legal guarantees underpinning its independence, in a manner consistent with the Egyptian Constitution and the Paris Principles.