National Council for Human Rights
Encyclopedia
National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) is an Egypt
ian human rights
organization established in 2003 with a mission of promoting and maintaining human rights in Egypt
. The President of the NCHR is former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
, who has held the position since the organization's founding. The NCHR publishes annual reports concerning the current human rights situation in Egypt.
While the NCHR maintains that it operates independently, other organizations, such as the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, have expressed skepticism for the NCHR's affiliation with the Shura Council
and the government's role in selecting members in the organization. In its 2009 Human Rights Report on Egypt, the United States State Department described the NCHR as a "consultative subsidiary of the Shura Council
," but recognized that the NCHR's 2008/2009 annual report highlighted the human rights abuses by the Egyptian government, such as the imposition of a state of emergency, mistreatment of arrested citizens, weak counterterrorism laws, and restrictions on political parties and NGOs.
In 2007, the NCHR accused the Egyptian government of fraud during a national referendum. With Egyptian opposition groups urging citizens to boycott the referendum, the NCHR reported that the Egyptian government forced public workers to vote and restricted access to polling station from outside monitors. The Egyptian government reported that 75.9% voted for the constitutional amendments, although only 27% of voters participated in the referendum.
In 2008, the NCHR investigated the incidents at the Monastery of Saint Fana
and highlighted the event in a report focused on the increase in sectarian violence
in Egypt.
In the aftermath of the ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak
, a committee organized by the NCHR found Mubarak, former interior minister Habib el-Adly, and others in the National Democratic Party
responsible for the deaths of peaceful protesters during the uprisings preceding Mubarak's resignation. However, this report was met with criticism from those who believe that Mubarak should be held criminally, in addition to politically, responsible for violence against protesters
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
organization established in 2003 with a mission of promoting and maintaining human rights in Egypt
Human rights in Egypt
The state of human rights in Egypt remains poor due to repressive government policies and brutal government crackdowns.-Rights and liberties ratings:...
. The President of the NCHR is former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali is an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1992 to December 1996...
, who has held the position since the organization's founding. The NCHR publishes annual reports concerning the current human rights situation in Egypt.
While the NCHR maintains that it operates independently, other organizations, such as the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, have expressed skepticism for the NCHR's affiliation with the Shura Council
Shura Council
The Shura Council is the upper house of Egyptian bicameral Parliament. Its name roughly translates into English as "the Consultative Council". The lower house of parliament is the People's Assembly....
and the government's role in selecting members in the organization. In its 2009 Human Rights Report on Egypt, the United States State Department described the NCHR as a "consultative subsidiary of the Shura Council
Shura Council
The Shura Council is the upper house of Egyptian bicameral Parliament. Its name roughly translates into English as "the Consultative Council". The lower house of parliament is the People's Assembly....
," but recognized that the NCHR's 2008/2009 annual report highlighted the human rights abuses by the Egyptian government, such as the imposition of a state of emergency, mistreatment of arrested citizens, weak counterterrorism laws, and restrictions on political parties and NGOs.
In 2007, the NCHR accused the Egyptian government of fraud during a national referendum. With Egyptian opposition groups urging citizens to boycott the referendum, the NCHR reported that the Egyptian government forced public workers to vote and restricted access to polling station from outside monitors. The Egyptian government reported that 75.9% voted for the constitutional amendments, although only 27% of voters participated in the referendum.
In 2008, the NCHR investigated the incidents at the Monastery of Saint Fana
Monastery of Saint Fana
The Monastery of Saint Fana is a Coptic Orthodox monastery. It is named after Saint Fana, also known as Saint Bane , an Egyptian Christian hermit...
and highlighted the event in a report focused on the increase in sectarian violence
Sectarian violence
Sectarian violence and/or sectarian strife is violence inspired by sectarianism, that is, between different sects of one particular mode of ideology or religion within a nation/community...
in Egypt.
In the aftermath of the ouster of former president Hosni Mubarak
Hosni Mubarak
Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak is a former Egyptian politician and military commander. He served as the fourth President of Egypt from 1981 to 2011....
, a committee organized by the NCHR found Mubarak, former interior minister Habib el-Adly, and others in the National Democratic Party
National Democratic Party (Egypt)
The National Democratic Party , often simply called Al-Ḥizb al-Waṭaniy – the "National Party", was an Egyptian political party. It was founded by President Anwar El Sadat in 1978....
responsible for the deaths of peaceful protesters during the uprisings preceding Mubarak's resignation. However, this report was met with criticism from those who believe that Mubarak should be held criminally, in addition to politically, responsible for violence against protesters