Press Release
Egyptian authorities are misusing vice laws to target groups including women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized communities, according to a joint report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 4th Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Egypt by the Cairo 52 Legal Research Institute (Cairo 52), the Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC), and the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR). This critical report, scheduled for review in the 48th session (January–February 2025), calls for comprehensive legal reforms to ensure the rule of law and protection from human rights violations.
The report submitted on July 16, 2024, meticulously documents Egyptian authorities’ use of “vice laws” to infringe on human rights, including the right to a fair trial, privacy, and freedom of expression. In particular, laws such as Law 10/1961 (on prostitution), the Penal Code (section on public morals), and Cybercrime Law 175/2018 (on family values), are often applied without clarity and are used to prosecute individuals unfairly, including for “crimes” such as dancing in TikTok videos or being the survivor of gang rape. The report emphasizes the particularly harsh impact on women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups.
Nora Noralla, Executive Director of Cairo 52, highlighted, “The enforcement of these vice laws is a direct attack on the privacy and dignity of individuals. The report reveals disturbing instances where digital evidence is extracted through coercion and illegal searches, which is then used to fabricate charges against innocent people. It is imperative that the Egyptian government takes immediate steps to align its legal framework with international human rights standards.”
Yasmin Omar, Director of the Democracy Matters Initiative at MEDC, underscored the dire consequences of these practices: “The application of vice laws in Egypt has led to arbitrary arrests and detentions, violating the basic human rights of individuals, particularly targeting those most vulnerable in our society. These laws are not only outdated but are also weaponized to suppress dissent and silence voices advocating for human rights and equality.”
Pooja Patel, Deputy Executive Director for Programmes and Advocacy at ISHR, recalled that “in the previous UPR cycle, Egypt did not accept recommendations to reform the legal framework, particularly for the right to defend rights.” She called on “states to reiterate recommendations for comprehensive legal reforms to safeguard the rights of human rights defenders and vulnerable groups, and immediately release all political prisoners and lift restrictions on civic space.”
The joint submission calls for comprehensive legal reforms to ensure the rule of law and protection from human rights violations. Key recommendations include:
- Amendment of Vice Laws: Abolishing laws or reforming them to provide clear, precise definitions and limit the discretionary power of law enforcement.
- Strengthening Judicial Oversight: Ensuring due process and preventing the use of coerced evidence.
- Protecting Privacy Rights: Enforcing strict legal procedures for searches and seizures.
- Non-discrimination Measures: Safeguarding the rights of women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other vulnerable groups.
- Freedom of Expression: Guaranteeing the constitutional right to free speech and preventing the misuse of laws to silence dissent.
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a mechanism of the Human Rights Council that requires each United Nations Member State to undergo a peer review of its human rights records every 4.5 years aimed at promoting and protecting human rights in every country.
This submission is a collaborative effort by international human rights organizations to bring attention to the ongoing human rights violations in Egypt and to advocate for systemic changes that protect and promote the rights of all individuals. The organizations urge the Egyptian government to take these recommendations seriously and to work towards creating a legal environment that respects and upholds human dignity and justice.
For more information and to access the full report, please visit: https://cairo52.com/2024/08/05/joint-stakeholder-submission-to-the-un-human-rights-councils-4th-universal-periodic-review-egypt48th-session-jan-feb-2025/
About Cairo 52 Legal Research Institute (Cairo 52): Cairo 52, founded in 2020, is a non-governmental policy and research institute focusing on researching the fundamental human rights of gender and sexual minorities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
About Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC): MEDC, formed by a 2024 merger of the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) and the Freedom Initiative, is a U.S.-based nonprofit and nonpartisan advocacy organization that works with the people of the Middle East and North Africa to challenge authoritarian systems, free the unjustly detained, and advocate for U.S. policies that protect human rights and advance a bold vision for democracy.
About International Service for Human Rights (ISHR): ISHR is an independent, non-profit organization promoting and protecting human rights, whose mission is to support human rights defenders, strengthen human rights systems, as well as lead and participate in coalitions for human rights change.
