Commenting on the government's statement

Maat calls on the Egyptian parliament to oblige the government to implement the recommendations of the periodic review related to the redefinition of the crime of torture

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On the occasion of the Egyptian Parliament's readiness to discuss the report prepared by a special parliamentary committee in response to the statement of the government of Eng. Sherif Ismail, which the government presented to the House of Representatives at the end of March 2016, the Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights appeals to the members of the Council to take action The obligations of the Egyptian government before the universal periodic review mechanism Take into account during the discussion of the statement and the report of the Parliamentary Committee on it

Maat Foundation calls on the representatives to push the government to adhere in particular to the recommendations numbers (166/112), (166/113), (166/114, (166/115) and submitted by countries (Slovenia, Australia, Nigeria, Palestine) respectively, which were Its text: -

1. Harmonize the definition of torture in its national legislation with the internationally accepted definition as set forth in the Convention against Torture.
2. The use of the definition of torture contained in Article (1) of the United Nations Convention against Torture for adoption in the Penal Code.
3. Amending Article 126 of the Penal Code in line with the Convention Against Torture.
4. Consider amending Article 26 of the Penal Code to criminalize torture in line with Article 52 of the new constitution adopted in 2014.

These are the recommendations that the Egyptian government endorsed in its report submitted to the Human Rights Council in March 2015, due to its compatibility with the constitution, which considered torture in all its forms a crime whose penalty is not subject to the statute of limitations, and that the right to dignity is one of the rights guaranteed by the constitution, and the government affirms that any assault is committed against the citizen. While exercising lawfully his rights, the perpetrator of this assault shall be brought before the judiciary for investigation, regardless of his job description.

Despite the government’s support for these recommendations, the Foundation believes that the government’s statement delivered by Prime Minister Sherif Ismail before Parliament on the twenty-seventh of last March was devoid of any reference to the government's implementation of these international obligations, and accordingly:

Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights appeals to the parliament in its comment on the Egyptian government's statement to demand that it promptly submit legislative amendments to parliament regarding the amendment of Article 126 of the Penal Code and the amendment of the definition of torture in the Penal Code to conform with the definition of torture contained in Article 1 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture.

This appeal comes within the framework of the implementation of the Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights, which has a consultative status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council.The Universal Periodic Review as a Tool to Improve Public Policies During the Transition Period ”, Funded by the European Union over the course of 2016-2017. It seeks to mobilize all possible efforts to support the Egyptian state to fulfill its international obligations, especially the recommendations it accepted during the second session of the Review 2014, through an integrated package of capacity-building activities, awareness-raising and advocacy activities.

Please visit the official project page for more updated information: www.fb.com/UPR.Egypt2016