UN issues 300 recommendations for Egypt to improve human rights

The UN Human Rights Council issued on Friday a report with 300 recommendations for the Egyptian authorities to improve the human rights situation in the country, it has been reported.

According to Turkey’s Anadolu news agency, the UNHRC said that the government in Cairo will review the report before responding to the recommendations in the 28th session of the international body slated for March next year.

The council has previously issued two similar reports: one for Iran included 291 recommendations while another for Iraq made 229 recommendations to improve human rights in each country.

Prominent amongst the recommendations are that security officials involved in torture should be brought to justice; putting an end to the torture and ill-treatment of detainees; and investigating all claims of such treatment. Other suggestions from the UNHRC include an end to violence against women, the release of everyone arrested for freedom of speech issues and the immediate release of journalists and others who defend human rights. The UN body has also called on Egypt to ratify a new law upholding international standards for NGOs and the abolition of the death penalty. The latter was proposed by Turkey’s representative on the council.

Representatives of 121 countries attended the UNHRC session, who expressed their concerns about the death sentences given to a number of prisoners in Egypt.