CAIRO, Feb 18 (MENA) - Chairperson of the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) Moushira Khattab stated that Egypt has thwarted the plot to displace the Palestinian people thanks to the firm stance, wisdom, and decisive actions of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in dealing with attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause.

These actions were supported by a strong popular base that stood behind the political leadership to reject plots targeting Egyptian and Arab national security, she said, emphasizing the importance of the Egyptian proposal to rebuild Gaza without displacing the Palestinian people from their land.

This came during a seminar organized by the Middle East News Agency for the seasoned diplomat and head of the human rights watchdog, which was attended by MENA Board Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Ahmed Kamal and members of the agency's editorial board, and where the role of NCHR in light of current challenges was addressed.

Khattab added: "Today, we are at a watershed moment in history, regarding the determination to establish an independent Palestinian state and the global rejection of displacement plans." She pointed out that Egypt and Jordan have strongly opposed the displacement plan since the outset of the Israeli aggression almost 16 months ago, praising both countries’ unified stance.

She confirmed that aborting the displacement plot was thanks to the wisdom of President Sisi and King Abdullah II of Jordan, as calls for displacement represent a setback for human rights. She highlighted that the support of the Egyptian and Jordanian people for their leaders is a safeguard against these calls for displacement.

Khattab said that what happened after October 7, 2023, including the genocide and spending billions of dollars to destroy Gaza, revealed the double standards of the international community. She called on the UN Security Council to honor its responsibility and issue a resolution to establish a Palestinian state that has a full membership in the United Nations, as it did decades ago for the establishment of Israel, emphasizing that the plan to displace the Palestinians contradicts human rights.

Regarding the human rights file, Khattab praised the progress made by the country in this area. She noted that Egypt has a modern constitution which laid a strong foundation for the rights of every Egyptian citizen without any kind of discrimination or prejudice, stressing that the safeguard for any country is the application of human rights without discrimination and affirmed that Egypt is on the right track.

She noted that Egypt navigated the COVID-19 pandemic by respecting human rights, handling the crisis with transparency and providing real-time information to the public to prevent confusion and rumors. She also pointed to Egypt's successful experience in eradicating Hepatitis C, as well as its success in the primary healthcare file.

She said that Egypt deals with human rights in its comprehensive sense, achieving significant successes in economic and social rights. The Egyptian "Decent Life" initiative, endorsed by the United Nations, has become a model for initiatives that have transformed the lives of millions of citizens in villages and governorates, she said, emphasizing the need for such kind of initiatives to become sustainable for every citizen without discrimination to ensure community stability, as the stability of nations depends on the satisfaction of their people.

She continued that the National Council for Human Rights was established to help Egypt implement and spread the culture of human rights. The council plays its role in monitoring the implementation of these rights through a complaints system, which is considered the council's largest arm, she said, stating that she works within this system, and complaints are addressed in real-time.

Khattab pointed out that the average number of complaints received annually is about 5,000, with most of them being responded to by all state institutions. The council also has an economic program, organizing training and qualification courses in the governorates and villages to empower citizens economically, she said.

She praised the efforts of the Parliament in discussing the draft Criminal Procedures Law, under the enlightened leadership of Speaker of the House of Representatives Hanafi Gebali. She confirmed that the current draft law supports the national human rights strategy and that it is being formulated in line with the 2014 Constitution.

She noted that there were some remarks on the draft law from certain unions, and there has been ongoing dialogue regarding it. The council will monitor its implementation once approved, she said, emphasizing the need to create laws with a forward-looking perspective to keep up with developments.

She highlighted the importance of passing laws after they are discussed through public dialogue, noting that the council plays its role during discussions by hosting stakeholders to understand their views before the passing of any laws, as was done with the Labor Law. She stressed the importance of societal dialogue on the proposed Personal Status Law when it is brought up for discussion, as it concerns millions of Egyptian families.

She described the national human rights strategy as a great step, noting that there is an executive plan in place to implement it. However, she believes the strategy needs adjustments. She also praised President Sisi's decisions to grant pardons to convicted prisoners and the Public Prosecutor’s decisions to release some detainees.

Khattab emphasized that "presidential pardons" are among the greatest initiatives introduced by the President, reflecting the state's commitment to enhancing human rights. She stressed the importance of integrating and rehabilitating those released, noting that a strong justice system is a one based on restorative rather than punitive justice.

She praised the efforts of the Ministry of Interior in establishing rehabilitation centers that align with international human rights standards. She highlighted that Egyptian women are living in a golden age, with President Sisi strongly defending women's rights. For the first time, there is a woman in the position of First Assistant to the Minister of the Interior for Human Rights, she boasted.

The NCHR chief said that the council regularly organizes training courses for employees on human rights and promotes the culture of human rights in schools and universities, stressing the need to create a culture that supports fundamental rights in the society.

The Chairperson of the National Council for Human Rights stated that Egypt's Universal Periodic Review in Geneva is one of the most important steps highlighting Egypt’s commitment to strengthening human rights. She noted that the Egyptian government has the right to accept or reject recommendations from periodic reviews and pointed to some reports from foreign organizations that are politically motivated. However, she emphasized the need to respond to all reports calmly, as satisfying citizens is more important than satisfying external parties.

She confirmed that the media is a major partner in spreading the culture of human rights and noted that the council has prepared a media strategy and vision to spread this culture. Meetings have been held with the Supreme Council for Media Regulation to implement this strategy, she went on to say.
(MENA)
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