THE STATE OF

HUMAN RIGHTS IN

EGYPT Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Arab Republic of Egypt

ADVANCEMENT OF CHILD RIGHTS

Since the beginning of the current year, Egypt has undertaken significant steps to advance the

rights of the child and the wellbeing of the countrys minors. On February 11, 2015, Egypt withdrew its reservation to an article in the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child that sets

the minimum legal age for marriage at 18, aligning its international obligations to conform with

changes that have already been made to domestic law.

Similarly, in January, Egypt amended its Child Law to lower the age when children can be raised by

foster parents from 2 years to 3 months, allowing non-institutional support of orphans and other

children in need nearly from birth, allowing children to receive non-institutional care from infancy.

CENTRAL SECURITY

SERVICES HR TRAINING

Officers and soldiers from the Central Security

Services received training and briefings

regarding the concepts of human rights and

their implementation in practice.

ADVANCEMENT OF HUMAN

RIGHTS IN PRISONS

The Egyptian prisons authority undertook a

number of steps with the aim of ensuring that

the rights of inmates are protected. During the

previous period, 396 inmates were granted

pardons, and 369 cases of appeals were

reviewed, pertaining to the transfer of inmates

to other prisons to be closer to their families,

and to requests of pardons.

The Prisons Authority is also ensuring that

inmates receive proper social care. Surveys

were conducted to identify the families in need

of social welfare, and more than 700 families

were provided with social welfare.

The Prisons Authority also worked to vitalize

sporting and cultural activity in Egypts prisons, organizing several sporting events as well as 73

cultural seminars, in addition to providing the

inmates with access to books and newspapers.

INTERIOR MINISTRY EFFORTS

TO SUPPORT WOMENS RIGHTS Personnel from the Ministry of Interior

participated in awareness-raising seminars

organized by the National Council for Women

regarding the rights of women and their

protection.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMPLAINTS

UNDER REVIEW

The Ministry of Interior has received a number

of complaints pertaining to human rights, and

is in the process of reviewing them to ensure

full compliance with human rights standards.