Geneva, Switzerland and Washington, United States [July 15, 2024] – The Committee for Justice (CFJ) and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR) have jointly submitted a comprehensive report to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) for the Arab Republic of Egypt. The submission, prepared for the UPR 48^th Session of the Human Rights Council in July 2024, meticulously examines Egypt’s adherence to its human rights obligations since its last review in November 2019.

The report highlights a significant deterioration in civic space and human rights in Egypt, exacerbated by recent political developments – most notably, the 2023 presidential elections, and regional conflicts. As prominent actors in civil society, journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders (HRDs) in Egypt face heightened risks, including arbitrary arrests, detention, and enforced disappearances. The Government has implemented and commonly uses restrictive laws and policies to stifle freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. 

Egypt’s press freedom has eroded severely, with the country ranking 170 out of 180 in the Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index, reflecting severe restrictions on independent media sources and internet access. Laws such as the SCMR law (Law No. 180 of 2018) and the cybercrime law (Law No. 175 of 2018) enable extensive censorship and surveillance, with numerous incidents of media website blockages and journalist detentions documented. Furthermore, the Egyptian authorities employ advanced surveillance technologies to monitor and censor communications, targeting HRDs, lawyers, and journalists without judicial oversight.

The crackdown on peaceful protests is another critical issue highlighted in the report. Legislative measures and excessive use of force by security forces have criminalized peaceful assembly and association, leading to numerous arrests and detentions during protests, particularly those pertaining to political and social issues. Additionally, vaguely defined anti-terrorism laws are used to justify arbitrary detentions and human rights violations, with a significant number of individuals held in pretrial detention beyond legal limits.

Despite receiving 115 recommendations during the previous UPR cycle related to core civic space freedoms, Egypt’s response has been largely inadequate. The government accepted 66 recommendations but has shown little evidence of their implementation. Instead, there are ongoing violations of rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and the press. The report concludes with specific recommendations for the Egyptian government, urging the implementation of prior UPR recommendations and cessation of human rights violations. These recommendations include guaranteeing freedom of expression and the press, including the cessation of internet censorship, ending arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances, revising restrictive laws that inhibit civic freedoms, and ensuring the protection of HRDs, journalists, and lawyers from reprisals.

The Committee for Justice (CFJ) is a Geneva-based non-governmental organization dedicated to defending victims of human rights violations across the Middle East and North Africa. 

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR) is a global advocacy organization founded to continue Robert F. Kennedy’s legacy of fighting for justice and human rights. RFKHR engages in strategic litigation and advocacy to protect civic space worldwide.

For more information, please contact:

Committee for Justice (CFJ): [media@cfjustice.org]

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR): [Emma Gillett gillett@rfkhumanrights.org]