Annual Report of The National Council for Human Rights

Chapter One

Egypt's role in the Establishment of International and Regional
Legitimacy of Human Rights Principles

First : Universal Declaration of Human rights

The preamble to the UN Charter reaffirms faith in "fundamental human rights", and article 1 lists among the purposes of the UN: "To achieve international cooperation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion".

Similar provisions are contained in the additional statements of purpose in art. 55.
Moreover, Article 13 provides that "The General Assembly shall initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of assisting in the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction..".

Article 62 provides that "The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) may make recommendations for the purpose of promoting respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all."

Henceforth, a commission on HR, created by ECOSOC, was entrusted with the drafting of a universal declaration of HR. On 10th of the UN General Assembly Adapted the universal declaration of Human rights, with 48 states voting for adoption and eight states abstaining.

In its preamble, the Declaration provides that it is " a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, among the peoples of Member States themselves."

Throughout its recent history, Egypt has participated with the international community in its efforts to crystallize and establish the principles of fundamental human rights and freedoms. Egypt's efforts commenced with the Convention on the Abolition of Slavery and Servitude at the beginning of the twentieth century. Egypt continued its efforts thereafter in international conventions for the recognition of specific rights, such as the two International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions on the abolition of forced labour as well as other conventions regulating the right to work, which were issued under the auspices of the ILO.

Egypt's efforts within the international community came successively with its endorsement of the creation of the United Nations Organization and in the definition of its aims and objectives, foremost among which is respect for and promotion of human rights as the natural avenue to safeguarding international security and peace and to saving the international community from the scourge of wars and disputes.

Egypt has joined the global march of the international movement of human rights towards its transformation into international legitimacy, and in the drafting of the principles of fundamental human rights and freedoms, set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, into binding international legal rules.

Egypt's participation has been to propose, prepare, draft and endorse United Nations' agreements and by its concrete active participation in the membership of the United Nations mechanisms or those established by international human rights agreements.

Egypt has adopted the following International conventions:

(1) Convention on Slavery, Servitude, Forced Labour and Similar Institutions and Practices, signed at Geneva on 25 September 1926, and the Protocol amended.

Egypt ratified the Convention on 25 January 1928, and the Protocol on 29 September 1954. The Convention was published in the Egyptian Official Gazette, Issue 73, of 22 September 1955, and was implemented as of 7 July 1955.

(2) Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, opened for signature on 9 December 1948.

Egypt ratified the Convention on 28 January 1952 according to Law 121 of 1951, published in the Egyptian Official Gazette, Issue no. 71, of 16 August 1951. The Convention was published in Issue 100, of 3 July 1952, and was implemented as of 3 May 1952.

(3) Convention No. 29 of the International Labour Organisation concerning Forced Labour, Geneva, 1930.

Egypt adopted the Convention according to Law 510 of 1955, which was published in the Egyptian Official Gazette, Issue no. 81 bis, of 23 October 1955, and was implemented as of 29 November 1956.

(4) Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery, Geneva, 1956.

Egypt ratified the Convention on 17 April 1958. It was implemented as of 17 April 1958, which was the day of deposit of the ratification document in application of Article 24 of the Convention.

(5) Convention No. 105 of the International Labour Organization concerning Abolition of Forced Labour, Geneva, 1957.

Egypt adopted the Convention according to Presidential Decree no. 1240 of 4 October 1958, published in the Egyptian Official Gazette, Issue no. 101, of 25 December 1958, and was implemented as of 23 October 1959.

(6) Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others, 1950.

Egypt adopted the Convention according to Presidential Decree no. 884 of 11 May 1959, published in the Egyptian Official Gazette, Issue no. 244, of 9 November 1959, and was implemented as of 10 September 1959.

(7) International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, 1965.

Egypt adopted the Convention according to Presidential Decree no. 369 of 1967 of 25 January 1967. The Convention was published in the Egyptian Official Gazette, Issue no. 45, of 11 November 1972 and was implemented as of 4 January 1969.

(8) International Convention on Suppression & Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid 30 Nov. 1973:

Egypt adopted the Convention according to Presidential Decree no. 62 of 1977. The Convention was published in the Egyptian Official Gazette, Issue no. 32, of 11 August 1977, and was implemented as of 5 July 1977.

(9) Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, 1951.

Egypt adopted the Convention on 28 June 1980 according to Presidential Decree no. 331 of 1980, with the reservations set forth hereunder:

a- Article (12) paragraph (1) titled "Personal Status", which provides that: "The personal status of a refugee shall be governed by the law of the country of his domicile or, if he has no domicile, by the law of the country of his residence".
Article (20) titled "Rationing", and which provides that: "Where a rationing system exists, which applies to the population at large and regulates the general distribution of products in short supply, refugees shall be accorded the same treatment as nationals".

b- Article (22) which provides that: "The Contracting States shall accord to refugees the same treatment as is accorded to nationals with respect to elementary education ".

c- Article (23) which provides that: "The Contracting States shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in their territory the same treatment with respect to public relief and assistance as is accorded to their nationals ".

d- Article (24) which provides that: "The Contracting States shall accord to refugees lawfully staying in their territory the same treatment as is accorded to nationals in respect of the following matters.. (hours of work - holidays - apprenticeship and training - social security - compensation.)"
The Convention was published in the Egyptian Official Gazette, Issue no. 48, of 26 November 1981, and was implemented as of 20 August 1981.