A/HRC/43/16/Add.1 I. Introduction 1. Egypt cherishes its deep-rooted traditions aimed at promoting and protecting universally recognized human rights. The Government takes this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to continuing its efforts in this regard, to taking vigorous action at the national and international levels to promote human rights, and to cooperating actively and constructively with the Human Rights Council and all other relevant forums. 2. The Government confirms its desire to cooperate and support the universal periodic review mechanism, since it is founded on the basic principles of objectivity and transparency. The consultative and cooperative approach adopted enhances the prospects of achieving its goals and aspirations of protecting and promoting human rights throughout the world, while respecting the geographical and cultural characteristics of societies, as underscored by Human Rights Council resolution No. 3/21 of 20 September 2012. 3. Egypt was presented with 372 recommendations at the meeting of the thirty-fourth session of the Working Group that was held on 13 November 2019. It studied them within a coordinated framework comprising all relevant governmental bodies, the National Council for Women, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, and the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, and in consultation with the National Council for Human Rights and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs). They discussed the policies and measures required to implement the recommendations that were deemed to be acceptable, in line with the Constitution of 2014, as amended, and the country’s international obligations. 4. The Government’s position on the recommendations is based on a firm foundation established by the Constitution, which makes respect for and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms a basic constituent of the country’s political system, dedicating an entire chapter to them and including provisions for rights that were not previously recognized in the country’s Constitution, such as the right to strike peacefully, the right to freedom of belief, thought, opinion and expression, the right to freedom of scientific research and to freedom of artistic and literary creativity, the right to form civil associations by notification, and the right to demonstrate peacefully by notification. The Constitution recognizes the equality of all citizens before the law and guarantees their enjoyment of rights and freedoms without discrimination on any ground. It underscores the importance of establishing a partnership between the State, its institutions and civil society organizations and contains the guarantees required to safeguard rights and freedoms. II. The position of Egypt on the recommendations 5. Before presenting its views on the recommendations it has received, the Government would like to state the following: • The report sets forth the country’s position regarding all recommendations based on the following categories: fully accepted recommendations; partially accepted recommendations; implemented recommendations; unacceptable recommendations; inaccurate recommendations; and two recommendations that were deemed to be hostile. • Full or partial acceptance of the recommendations is subject to the provisions of the Egyptian Constitution and the country’s international obligations. • Partial acceptance of recommendations is confined to the acceptable part of each recommendation. • Implemented recommendations are those that were implemented prior to the universal periodic review process and do not require additional procedures for their implementation. • An explanation of the Government’s position on some of the recommendations is provided in order to clarify its understanding of the content or purpose, some of the 2 GE.20-03395