Egypt achieved significant progress in the right to development: Moushira Khattab

Ambassador Dr. Moushira Khattab, President of the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), said that the council has draft a comprehensive national plan to follow up on the implementation of the national human rights strategy provision, which was launched by the Egyptian President in September 2021. She stressed that the NCHR performs its role in following the state of human rights as a national independent institution.

Khattab highlighted that Egypt has always been present in the world’s human rights system which is derived from the universal human rights declaration. She pointed out that the country contributed to drafting the declaration and ratified 10 international conventions that resulted from this declaration. 

In her speech during an event held by the Canadian-Egyptian Business Council and the Egyptian Business Council under the theme “International Cooperation and the National Human Rights Strategy Implementation”, the NCHR President said that Egypt respects its international obligations, noting that the country regularly submits its reports to international treaty commissions.

The NCHR President highlighted that international cooperation is an international commitment and one of human rights enforcement measures which covers civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. 

Moreover, she noted the importance of the “Right to Development” declaration adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1986.

On the civil and political rights front, Khattab noted that there are steps to be taken by states for the immediate enforcement of these rights including ensuring adequate means of grievance for anyone whose rights or freedoms were violated, included their rights to equality and non-discrimination.

Furthermore, Khattab pointed out that Egypt has exerted significant efforts to aid the NCHR in the performance of its duties which efficiently contributed to the status A obtained by the council according to the OHCHR classification system of national human rights institutions (NHRIs).