National Council for Human Rights Receives Delegation from the Austrian Parliament

The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), chaired by Dr. Ahmed Ihab Gamaleldin, President of NCHR, received a delegation from the Austrian Parliament led by Member of Parliament Nico Marchetti, as part of an ongoing dialogue and exchange of views on a number of human rights issues and shared challenges at both the national and international levels.

The meeting was attended from NCHR's side by Mr. Mohamed Anwar El-Sadat, Vice President, together with Board Members Ambassador Dr. Mahy Abdel Latif, Mr. Alaa Shalaby, Ms. Vivian Morad, Dr. Ayman Zohry, Mr. Ahmed Badawy, Dr. Wafaa Benjamin, Ms. Samira Louqa, Dr. Mohamed Mamdouh, Dr. Sherine Farag, and Mr. Mohamed Osman, in addition to Counselor Ahmed El-Mougy, Acting Secretary-General of NCHR.

The Austrian parliamentary delegation included Members of Parliament Alexander Petschnig, Ferdinand Tiefnig, Daniel Schmid, Henrike Brandstötter, and Dr. Elisabeth Götze, in addition to H.E. Ambassador Georg Pöstinger, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Minister-Counsellor Daniela Herta, the Embassy's Deputy Head of Mission.

The meeting included a presentation NCHR's mandate, within the framework of its constitutional and legal responsibilities, its role in the protection and promotion of human rights, and the efforts it undertakes across a number of areas.

The two sides also discussed efforts to address various forms of discrimination and hate speech, as well as the importance of promoting the values of equality, non-discrimination, and respect for diversity. They further discussed the role of national human rights institutions and legislative bodies in addressing such phenomena and limiting their impact on social cohesion and community peace.

Discussions also addressed issues relating to refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers in both Egypt and Austria. The Austrian delegation was briefed on the efforts undertaken by NCHR to monitor the situation of the aforementioned and address issues related to their rights, in accordance with the NCHR’s mandate and relevant international obligations.

In response to questions raised by NCHR Board Members, the Austrian side presented the efforts undertaken by both chambers of the Austrian Parliament in addressing human rights issues and challenges in Austria and Europe, particularly in light of the current international and regional circumstances. These included issues related to migration, asylum, and xenophobia, as well as the challenges these developments pose to societies and legislative and executive institutions.

The meeting also featured discussions on the realization of economic and social rights. The two sides emphasized the importance of strengthening the enjoyment of these rights and addressing the challenges associated with them in light of ongoing economic and social developments, as well as the importance of adopting policies and measures that take into account the needs of different groups and promote the principles of social justice.

Both sides affirmed the importance of continuing dialogue and exchanging expertise between NCHR and the Austrian Parliament, in a manner that contributes to enhancing a shared understanding of current human rights issues and challenges and benefiting from the diverse experiences and expertise in the field of the protection and promotion of human rights.