Annual Report of The National Council for Human Rights

Chapter Three

The Establishment of the National Council for Human Rights

According to its promulgating law, the NCHR undertakes to achieve the following purposes:

1- Further the protection and set the values of human rights.
2- Raise awareness of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
3- Ensure the observance of such rights and freedoms and undertake to settle complaints related thereto.
4- Provide opinions, recommendations and advice on matters relating to human rights at the national and international levels and monitor the enforcement and application of international agreements.

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of its promulgating law, the NCHR is competent to undertake, the following:

1- Prepare and propose means of implementation of a national action plan designed to further the protection of human rights in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
2- Provide competent bodies with recommendations and advice on all means to further protect, and promote human rights.
3- Provide opinions, recommendations, and advice on matters referred to it by the competent authorities and bodies concerning the protection and promotion of human rights.
4- Receive and examine complaints concerning protection of human rights, refer, any such complaints at its discretion, to the competent bodies and follow-up same, advise the parties concerned with the matter of the legal procedures to be followed and assist them in such regard, or settle such complaints with the relevant bodies.
5- Monitor the application of international human rights agreements and conventions, and provide the concerned authorities with proposals, notes and recommendations necessary for proper application of such agreements and conventions.
6- Coordinate with international and local organizations and agencies concerned with human rights in matters that would help achieve the purposes and promote the relationships of such organizations and agencies with, the NCHR.
7- Participate with Egyptian delegations in forums, and in meetings of regional and international organizations concerned with the protection of human rights.
8- Assist by way of advice in preparing reports that the State undertakes to present regularly to human rights committees and organs in application of international conventions; and respond to inquiries made by such committees and organizations.
9- Coordinate with public agencies concerned with human rights, and cooperate with the National Council for Women, the National Council for Children and Motherhood, and other interested councils and agencies.
10- Disseminate and raise public awareness of the culture of human rights through the assistance of institutions and organs relating to education, culture, media, and information.
11- Hold conferences, symposia, and seminars on subjects relating to human rights issues or related matters.
12- Make the recommendations necessary to support institutional and technical capacities in fields of human rights, including technical education and training of employees of State bodies on civil liberties, and economic, social, and cultural rights, with a view to increasing the efficiency of such employees.
13- Issue bulletins, magazines and printed material concerning the NCHR, and its purposes and functions.
14- Issue reports on human rights conditions, and developments made by the Arab Republic of Egypt in such regard at governmental and community levels.

The above functions, powers and duties reveal that the legislature is in line with the authorities provided for the national institutions under the Paris Principles of 1991.

Article One provides that the Council has a legal personality and shall independently perform its duties, activities and functions.
The Speaker of the Shoura Council issued Decree no. 1 of 2004 concerning the formation of the NCHR as follows:

•  Dr. Boutros Boutros Ghali                                                  Chairman

•  Dr. Ahmed Kamal Abu-El-Magd                                         Deputy Chairman

•  Dr. Ahmed Youssef Ahmed Mohamed

•  Dr. Ossama Mohamed El-Ghazali Harb

•  Mr. Bahi-El-Din Mohamed Hasan

•  Mr. Galal Aref Mohamed Ossman

•  Counsellor Gamal Ahmed Morsi Sayed Ahmed Shumann

•  Dr. Georgette Sobhi Abdou Kellini

•  Mr. Hafez El-Sayed Ahmed Abu-Sedda

•  Dr. Hossam Hassan Badrawi

•  Dr. Zeinab Abdel-Meguid Radwan

•  Mr. Sameh Mohamed Marrouf Ashour

•  Counsellor Samia Abdel-Ghani El-Motium

•  Dr. Solliman Abdel-Moneim Solliman Ewiss

•  Dr. Salah-El-Din Mahmoud Fawzi Amer

•  Counsellor Adel Mohamed Farid Koura

•  Mr. Fahmi Nashed Abdel-Messih

•  Dr. Fouad Abdel-Moneim Riad

•  Dr. Lila Ibrahim Tekla

•  Dr. Mohamed El-Saied El-Dekkak

•  Mr. Mohamed Mohamed Fayek

•  Dr. Mohamed Noemann Galal

•  Dr. Moustafa Mohamed El-Feki

•  Counsellor Mamdouh Moustafa Hassan

•  Mrs. Mona Salah-El-Din Zulfikar

•  Mr. Mounir Fakhri Abd-El-Nour

•  Dr. Hoda Abdel-Moneim El-Sadda

The NCHR, upon its establishment, undertook to complete its organizational structure by laying down its internal and financial regulations, and setting up its internal committees and secretariat in accordance with its internal regulations. The NCHR set up the following seven main committees.

- Civil and Political Rights Committee: Presided by Dr. Ahmed Youssef with the membership of Mr. Mohamed Faiek, Mr. Galal Aref, Dr. Hossam Badrawi, Mr. Mounier Fakhri Abdel-Noor, Mr. Hafez Abo-Sedda, Mr. Fahmy Nashed, Dr. Hoda ElSadaa, Mrs. Mona Zu-ElFakar, Dr. Osama ElGhazaly Harb and Dr. Mostafa ElFeki.

- Economic Rights Committee: Presided by Dr. Mohamed Noaman Galal with the membership of Dr. Georgette Sobhi Abdo Klieni.

- Social Rights Committee: Presided by Dr. Hossam Badrawi with the membership of Mr. Galal Aref, Counsellor Adel Qura, Dr. Zenab Radwan, Counsellor Gamal Shouman, Counsellor Samia El-Motium, Mrs. Mona Zu-ElFakar and Mr. Mohamed Faiek.

- Cultural Rights Committee: Presided by Dr. Zenab Radwan with the membership of Mr. Fahmy Nashed, Dr. Osama ElGhazaly Harb, Dr. Fouad Abdel-Moneim Riad, Dr. Ahmed Youssef and Dr. Solliman Abdel-Moneim Solliman.

- Legislative Affairs Committee: Presided by Counsellor Adel Qura with the membership of Dr. Georgette Klieni, Mr. Hafez Abo-Sedda, Counsellor Gamal Shouman, Dr. Mohamed ElSaeed ElDakak, Dr. Salah-ElDin Amer and Dr. Soliman Abdel-Moneim Soliman.

- International Affairs Committee: Presided by Dr. Salah-ElDin Amer with the membership of Dr. Mohamed Noaman Galal, Dr. Mohamed ElSaeed ElDakak, Dr. Laila Tkla, Dr. Fouad Abdel-Moneam Riad and Dr. Mostafa ElFeki.

- Grievances Committee: Presided by Counsellor Samia El-Motium with the membership of Mr. Mounier Fakhri Abdel-Noor, Dr. Hoda ElSadaa and Mrs. Mona Zu-ElFakar.

The NCHR may set up other permanent committees from among its members by a resolution adopted by a majority of two-thirds of its members.

The secretariat of each committee is headed by one member of the Council's members for a term of one year that may not be renewed. A committee may seek the assistance of any person whose experience it deems appropriate when reviewing any matter to which it is charged. This person shall not be entitled to vote.

- Executive Committee: An executive committee has been set up at the NCHR to monitor the NCHR's daily work. This committee is headed by the NCHR's chairman or his proxy and includes all secretaries of the permanent committees and the NCHR's secretary general.

Pursuant to Law no. 94 of 2003 promulgating the Council, the Council issued a resolution to form the secretariat.
Ambassador Mokhles Kotb has been elected as the Council's Secretary-General. He has granted the authority of the competent minister set forth in the applicable laws and regulations on financial and administrative matters.