OHCHR appreciates the positive steps taken by President El-Sisi to improve human rights, says UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, received Ambassador Dr. Moushira Khattab, President of the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), and Ambassador Dr. Mahmoud Karem, Vice-President of NCHR.

During the meeting, Bachelet congratulated Ambassador Dr. Moushira Khattab for assuming the presidency of the National Council for Human Rights, being the first woman to assume this position.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights lauded the positive steps taken by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to improve the state of human rights, most notably the launch of the National Human Rights Strategy (NHRS), and announcing 2022 the Year of Civil Society, as well as calling for a national dialogue.

Moreover, Bachelet commended the ongoing cooperation between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the NCHR in holding joint events addressing sustainable development indicators, and the organisation of a conference attended by all Arab national human rights institutions and international partners in February 2022. Bachelet highlighted the willingness of the OHCHR to support the activities of NCHR.

For her part, the NCHR President expressed her happiness to meet with Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and welcoming further cooperation with the OHCHR.

Ambassador Dr. Moushira Khattab pointed out the recent statements of the Egyptian President that raised the bar in political and civil rights. She also highlighted the "Haya Karima" programme that boosts economic, social and cultural rights of the most vulnerable categories of people in the Egyptian society.

Moreover, the NCHR President pointed out the role of the council in the implementation of the NHRS, adding that the council has developed its national action plan aimed at contributing to the implementation of the national strategy. She also pointed out that the NCHR will sign a cooperation programme with the EU and the OHCHR aimed at boosting the implementation of the national strategy.

The NCHR President emphasized that the council has finalized its vision for its contribution in the national dialogue from a human rights perspective.

In the end of the meeting, the NCHR President invited Bachelet to visit Egypt and the NCHR.