Executive summary:
The joint stakeholder submission by Cairo 52 Legal research institute and The Tahrir institute for Middle east policy (TIMEP) for the UN Human Rights Council’s 4th Universal Periodic Review of Egypt highlights the discriminatory policies against transgender and intersex individuals, preventing them from accessing their fundamental right to health. This report is based on primary research and data collected by Cairo 52, focusing on the challenges faced by these marginalised groups. Key findings include the prohibition of gender-affirming healthcare for transgender individuals under Article 43 of Egypt’s Medical Syndicate Regulations, which views gender identity as a mental disorder rather than a medical necessity. Intersex individuals face inadequate healthcare, with surgeries performed at birth without proper examination, leading to severe long-term consequences. Both groups are subject to discrimination, social stigma, and lack of proper medical training among healthcare providers. The report calls for several actions, including repealing Article 43, ensuring non-discriminatory access to healthcare, allocating resources for transgender and intersex medical centres, incorporating these services into health insurance, and establishing new medical curricula. These recommendations aim to protect the health and dignity of transgender and intersex individuals in Egypt, ensuring their rights are respected and upheld.
If you wish to know more about the UPR process, please visit the UPR Fact Sheet from here
