Page 5 - Issue-15

ELITE ISSUE 15, JANUARY 2020 PAGE 5

Our guest Dr. Mona Zulficar taking photos with our editors (from left) Yasmin G. Mousa, Silvana Sobhy and Ramy Magdy

These gains were not limited only to women but
trust that the Egyptian have in their economy. All those are
extended to the rights of the children, youth, the elderly
important factors for the growth of the Egyptian ec onomy.
and the disabled. The amended Constitution reinforc ed

the principle of citizenship disregarding any relig ious,
• What does the economic reform program need to be
class, geographical or political affiliations or
completed?
considerations.The Constitution also addresses for the
I see that there is a need for structural reform in institutions
first time de-centralisation which contributes to e fficient
that deal with investors to curb the red-tape and f acilitate
utilization of regional resources and the relative
permits and approvals. For instance, the Civil Serv ice Law
competitive advantages of the various governorates.
was issued to restructure and improve the efficienc y of
Currently, women hold 15% of parliamentary seats
governmental institutions. However, there is a need for
without quotas to be increased to 25% based on the
institutional judicial reforms, to enhance the effi ciency,
recent amendments of the Constitution, and the
specialization and the speed of the justice system and the
objective of all the foregoing amendments to the
enforceability of contracts.Most of the major contr acts
Constitution is that they have a positive impact on the
provide for international arbitration and seeks to avoid the
lives of all citizens.
jurisdiction of Egyptian courts due to its slow pac e.

Therefore, judicial reforms would not only benefit the
• You have an important role in the area of human
investors but would also benefit the citizens thems elves
rights, what is your evaluation of the status of
because justice is one of the pillars of stability and stability
the base for investments. human rights in Egypt in light of your work in the
national human rights council?
• As a legal expert, in light of the constitutional The National Council has issued a report, in the co ntext
of the Universal Periodic Review in 2019, to the
documents issued since 2011, what is your evaluatio n of
International Human Rights Council in Geneva,as an
the current status of the constitution?
independent report from that issued by the governme nt.
I have participated in all the activities related t o the
The report is as a matter of principle neutral and
constitution since January 2011. I also dedicated m y time
objective, as we mention the aspects of progress
and effort to contest the Muslim Brothers (MB)
regarding human rights in Egypt as well as the aspe cts
constitution during its formulation in 2013. I used to issue
where there are shortcomings. For example, we calle d
and circulate tables explaining and pointing out th e booby-
for the reconsideration of the law on pre-trial det entions
trapped articles in their proposed constitution, so that
because there are many accused persons who spend a
everyone would realize the dangers and risks to Egy pt and
long time in detention, but then are declared innoc ent by
the Egyptian identity that such a constitution woul d entail.
the court. therefore the legal provisions governing this
Afterwards, I participated in the Committee of 50 a nd
matter must be reconsidered altogether.When we issu e
served as its Vice President.We worked under very h ard
our reports on our visits to prisons and make any
conditions, and given the circumstances, the amend ed
reservations, the Ministry of Interior works to rem edy
Constitution has achieved unprecedented gains, as it has
them and we follow up such remedies. Accordingly, t he
affirmed certain rights for the first time for the Egyptian
reports issued by the NHRC are independent,
citizens, human rights, and women ’s rights.