Press Release
In a collaborative effort to address human rights violations targeting transgender and intersex individuals, the Cairo 52 Legal Research Institute (Cairo 52) and The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP) have submitted a joint report to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 4th Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Egypt. This report highlights the discriminatory policies and systemic abuses faced by these marginalized communities under Egyptian law, which undermine their fundamental right to health. The submission, set for review during the 48th session of the UPR (January–February 2025), calls for urgent legal reforms to ensure the protection of transgender and intersex individuals’ rights to health, privacy, and non-discrimination.
The joint report, submitted on July, 2024, emphasizes the Egyptian government’s failure to protect the right to health of these vulnerable populations, especially when it comes to gender-affirming healthcare. Article 43 of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate’s Code of Ethics bans healthcare providers from offering gender-affirming care to transgender individuals and creates barriers to accessing healthcare for both transgender and intersex individuals. It also highlights the critical health issues faced by intersex individuals, who are often subjected to non-consensual surgeries as children or even at birth,without comprehensive medical evaluation.
In the report, Nora Noralla, Executive Director of Cairo 52, noted, “Transgender and intersex individuals face systemic discrimination and mistreatment in Egypt, with their basic rights being overlooked and violated under current legislation. Our report calls for immediate changes to ensure equitable healthcare access for these communities and to protect their rights to bodily integrity and personal dignity.”
Further, TIMEP Legal Associate, Nadine Kheshen emphasized, “The Egyptian legal framework has failed to adapt to human rights principles, continuing to rely on outdated and harmful policies that marginalize transgender and intersex individuals. By submitting this report to the UN Human Rights Council, we aim to hold the Egyptian government accountable under its international legal obligations and to advocate for comprehensive reforms.”
Key findings in the report include:
Denial of Healthcare: Transgender individuals are denied access to gender-affirming healthcare based on discriminatory medical regulations that classify transgender identity as a mental disorder.
Non-Consensual Surgeries for Intersex Individuals: Intersex individuals often undergo medically unnecessary surgeries without informed consent, violating their right to bodily autonomy.
Discrimination and Stigma: Both transgender and intersex individuals face widespread social stigma, exacerbated by the Egyptian government’s failure to implement inclusive legal protections.
Inadequate Healthcare Resources: The report reveals the lack of resources in governmental hospitals, limiting healthcare accessibility across all demographic groups. Sufficient equipment, trained healthcare providers, and specialized centers hinder the provision of adequate healthcare for transgender and intersex individuals.
Lack of Medical Training: Healthcare providers lack sufficient training and resources to address the specific needs of transgender and intersex individuals, leading to misdiagnosis and inadequate care.
Recommendations:
In light of these findings, Cairo 52 and TIMEP recommend the following actions for Egypt:
Respect the Right to Health: The Egyptian government must respect, protect, and fulfill the health rights of transgender and intersex individuals without discrimination.
Repeal Article 43: The government must repeal Article 43 of the Medical Syndicate’s Professional Ethics Regulations, which prohibits doctors from performing gender-affirming surgeries for transgender individuals.
Guarantee Access to Healthcare: Ensure intersex individuals can access healthcare without restrictions, based solely on medical necessity.
End Criminalization: The government must end the use of vague laws to criminalize transgender and intersex individuals seeking medical care.
Protect Against Discrimination: Implement anti-discrimination policies and sexual education programs to ensure transgender and intersex people can access healthcare safely, without fear or stigma.
Prevent Unnecessary Surgeries: Protect intersex infants and children from unnecessary medical interventions and ensure surgeries are only conducted with informed consent.
Allocate Resources: Establish comprehensive medical centers in each of Egypt’s 27 governorates, providing hormonal, surgical, and psychological support for transgender and intersex individuals.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) serves as an essential mechanism for holding states accountable for their human rights records. This joint submission aims to elevate the urgent need for legal reforms in Egypt, ensuring that transgender and intersex individuals can live with dignity, free from discrimination and harmful practices.
For more information and to read the full report, please visit here.
Contact Information:
Cairo 52 Legal Research Institute
Info@cairo52.com
Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP)
info@timep.org
About Cairo 52 Legal Research Institute
Cairo 52 is a legal research institute committed to advancing human rights and bodily freedoms in the MENA region. The institute works to empower marginalized communities, particularly LGBTQ+ individuals, through legal advocacy, research, and grassroots services.
About The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP)
TIMEP is a non-profit that works to center advocates and experts from and in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the policy discourse to foster transparent, accountable, and just societies. TIMEP’s programming, analysis, and advocacy interact to ensure that the perspectives of experts and advocates from and in the MENA region are heard, that their work is strengthened, and that they as individuals are protected.
