On Tuesday, July 2, 2025, the Egyptian Human Rights Forum, in collaboration with the Committee for Justice, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, EuroMed Rights, the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms, and the Egyptian Front for Human Rights, organized a side event titled “From Recommendations to Reality: Monitoring Egypt’s Human Rights Commitments” on the sidelines of the 59th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The event was attended by a number of human rights experts, members of the National human rights council NHRC and civil society organizations and focused on the extent to which the Egyptian government has responded to the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism and the challenges associated with their implementation.
In his remarks, Moataz El-Fegiery (EuroMed Rights) criticized Egypt’s defensive stance and lack of political will, emphasizing that regional and international leniency—such as EU funding and the “safe country of origin” label—undermines accountability for rights violations.
Ahmed Mefreh (CFJ Executive Director) said Egypt has emptied the UPR mechanism of substance, accepting vague recommendations while rejecting or ignoring those addressing the death penalty, torture, and fair trials. He added that Egypt failed to respond seriously to technical assistance offers, and continues to disregard vital treaty commitments such as the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture.
Samar Al-Husseiny (Egyptian Human Rights Forum) raised alarm over transnational repression targeting exiled human rights defenders through travel bans, legal erasure, and the freezing of civil records. She also warned of new laws that may increase surveillance and retaliation against activists and their families.
Ahmed Attallah (Egyptian Front for Human Rights) denounced the misuse of counterterrorism legislation to criminalize peaceful dissent, with thousands in prolonged pretrial detention. He stressed the need for urgent legislative reform and independent investigations into torture and enforced disappearances.
Mohamed Lotfy (ECRF) reported ongoing violations in detention facilities, citing the death of 13 detainees in early 2025, including Mahmoud Asaad. He referenced revenge tactics in Marsa Matrouh and the case of activist Mohamed Gamal, arrested after protesting in solidarity with Palestine.
Maisaa Ashq (CIHRS) highlighted the state’s failure to protect women’s rights, pointing to the death of 18 young female agricultural workers and Egypt’s poor ranking in the Global Gender Gap Index. She criticized the government’s rejection of gender-focused UPR recommendations and the lack of progress on anti-violence legislation.
Speakers concluded by calling for the creation of an independent international monitoring mechanism to ensure Egypt’s compliance with its human rights obligations and to protect civil society actors from continued repression and impunity.
