New Study by Maat Titled Did the House of Representatives Fulfill its Role in Achieving the Strategy Goals?

Okeil: Ensuring effective implementation of the Strategy is crucial to assess the achievement of the intended outcomes

Fawqi: The House of Representatives has made slow progress in achieving the goals outlined in the Strategy

Salah: We urge the House of Representatives to prioritize the completion of the legislation outlined in the Strategy

Maat for Peace, Development, and Human Rights has published a study titled "Legislative Path of the National Human Rights Strategy: Did the House of Representatives Fulfill its Role in Achieving the Strategy Goals?" This study marks the approaching midpoint of the implementation period, scheduled to conclude in September 2026. By examining the activities of the House of Representatives and its legislative actions since the announcement of the National Human Rights Strategy by the President in September 2021, the study assesses the Council's responsiveness to the targeted outcomes specified in the four axes of the Strategy.

The National Human Rights Strategy aims to issue and amend approximately 33 pieces of legislation that contribute to achieving the desired outcomes in the four axes. Thus, the study focuses on monitoring the House of Representative efforts regarding these legislations, including proposals, discussions, drafting, and the enactment of laws. This examination provides an evaluation of the House of Representatives' performance in fulfilling its assigned role in accomplishing the objectives of the national strategy. Additionally, the study highlights the role of political parties represented in the House of Representatives in advancing the legislative path of the strategy and addresses the priorities for discussion.
The study reveals that the House of Representatives has achieved only 9% of the anticipated progress over a span of more than two years, with the approval of three pieces of legislation. This slow rate of progress is concerning. Moreover, the House of Representatives has fostered debates on 10 additional topics, accounting for 30% of the total targeted subjects. However, approximately 61% of the intended legislation has not received sufficient attention. This significant shortfall ultimately reflects a notable deficiency in the House of Representatives' performance toward achieving the required goals.

During the third session of the House of Representatives, 188 draft laws were approved. However, only one law, representing less than 1% of the total legislation approved by the House, pertained to the objectives of the National Human Rights Strategy. Furthermore, nearly four months into the fourth session, which began in October 2023, the House of Representatives has only approved one piece of legislation related to the national strategy. This particular law amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow the appeal of rulings issued in felony cases across all types of courts.
The study highlights that despite the presence of political party representation in the House of Representatives, there is a significant disconnect between their interests and the legislative track of the National Human Rights Strategy. While the strategy targets approximately 33 pieces of legislation, only 13 draft laws have been discussed or are still under discussion. Surprisingly, only one party has submitted a draft law related to the strategy, specifically addressing the legalization of domestic service workers' conditions. This draft law was presented by Representative Hala Abu Al-Saad, a member of the Modern Egypt party.

In addition to this, two draft laws were proposed by an independent representative, Representative Nashwa El-Deeb. The first draft law aims to enhance the rights of the elderly, while the second comprehensive draft law seeks to protect women from violence. The latter includes amendments to the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure to address discriminatory articles and criminalize all forms of violence against women. On the other hand, the government has submitted ten drafts and amendments to laws, indicating a stronger commitment to achieving the goals of the National Human Rights Strategy compared to the House of Representatives, which has played a limited role in implementing the proposed legislative path of the strategy.
Ayman Okeil, an international human rights expert and Chairman of Maat, emphasizes the importance of monitoring the implementation of the National Human Rights Strategy to measure the extent of achieving its intended outcomes. While there has been notable progress in certain aspects of the strategy's implementation, there is a clear deficiency in the performance of the House of Representatives in fulfilling its role and working towards the legislative objectives outlined in the strategy, particularly regarding laws discussed during the National Dialogue sessions. Key examples include the Freedom of Information Law, Unified Law to Combat Violence against Women, and amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Islam Fawqi, Director of the Democracy Support Unit at Maat, observes that the House of Representatives is making slow progress in achieving the strategy's goals. The approval of legislation allowing the appeal of rulings issued in criminal cases from all types of courts, which is a priority of the national strategy, came at the last minute. This legislation carries a constitutional obligation that mandates its existence within ten years from the implementation of the constitution. It is striking that the law was approved on January 16, 2024, just one day before the constitutional deadline of January 17, 2024. This indicates that the House of Representatives required a full ten years to approve legislation stipulated by the Constitution.

Ahmed Salah, the Deputy Director of the Democracy Support Unit at Maat, urges the House of Representatives to take the initiative and dedicate the current session as the "National Human Rights Strategy session." He calls for all legislation related to the national strategy to be prioritized and completed before the start of the fifth and final session. The upcoming session will see parties and parliamentarians occupied with preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Salah also emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts between Parliament, the National Dialogue Secretariat, and the Presidential Pardon Committee to achieve the agreed-upon national priorities.