UN Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric expresses concern about human rights situation in Egypt

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Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, expressed, on Tuesday, his concern about “a shrinking civic space in Egypt,” referring to previous statements he and the UN High Commissioner for human rights had made about the deteriorating human rights situation in Egypt. “Our position has not changed,” said Dujarric in response to a question about the more than 100 leading human rights organisations’ joint letter to foreign ministers warning of the deteriorating human rights situation in Egypt. The letter demanded an international monitoring and reporting mechanism to raise the profile of violations and crimes committed in Egypt and to deter further abuses.

Last November, Dujarric expressed concern about the arrest of human rights defenders in Egypt and supported the statement of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the issue. This was against the background of arresting high-profile staff members of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. Earlier, in 2015, Dujarric expressed the importance of respect for freedom of expression and association in Egypt, after the arrest of the high-profile journalist and human rights defender Hossam Bahgat.

The Egyptian regime has made no response to international concerns and demands, while the crackdown on the human rights community continues.