A/HRC/14/17 22. Egypt provided examples of many judgments protecting human rights. Civil society organisations were partners of the State in promoting human rights, as demonstrated during the consultation process within the universal periodic review. 23. Egypt had about 4 millions refugees on its territory. They are granted full right of asylum, a situation that UNHCR commended. The situation of illegal migrants who infiltrate Egypt to enter Israel was very sensitive. Self defence and proportionality were duly considered by law enforcement officials while protecting this border. 24. Egypt withdrew its reservation on article 9(2) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and has taken the necessary steps to seek the withdrawal of its general reservation, while that on article 16 is requested due to national law. In the past decade, Egypt has disseminated information on violence against women and has notably developed many programmes and drafted a law on sexual harassment. Egypt recalled that many women are in senior position in the civil service. 25. The death sentence only applied for very serious crimes and there had been a reduction of cases where it was issued and applied. In the past 20 years, there have been only 18 cases of enforced disappearances and there has been full cooperation with the relevant UN Working Group. 26. The Law of civil society organisations is under revision in order to reduce the role of administration and give them greater independence. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 27. During the interactive dialogue, 53 delegations made statements. Additional statements by 44 countries that could not be delivered during the dialogue owing to time constraints are posted on the extranet of the universal periodic review when available.1 A number of delegations commended Egypt for its active participation in and commitment to the universal periodic review and for the involvement of the civil society in the drafting of the national report. Numerous delegations congratulated Egypt for its informative and comprehensive national report. The institutional framework established for human rights promotion and protection and the legislative reforms undertaken were also commended. The establishment, active functioning, and numerous efforts of the National Council for Women, the National Council for Human Rights and the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood were particularly welcomed by many delegations. Egypt’s continuous efforts in the area of the promotion and protection of women’s and children’s rights were praised by a number of countries. Steps undertaken to combat female genital mutilation and to mainstream gender budgeting in economic and social development plans were particularly welcomed. Also achievements accomplished by Egypt in the domain of social, economic and cultural rights, especially with regard to the right to health, education and access to safe drinking water, were highlighted and appreciated. Egypt’s active role in the Human Rights Council and its constructive engagement with the United Nations human rights system in general were praised. Progress in achieving greater press freedom was 1 Republic of Korea; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Singapore; Denmark; Niger; Kazakhstan; Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; Botswana; Turkey; South Africa; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Latvia; Nicaragua; Islamic Republic of Iran; Hungary; Uruguay; Dominican Republic; Chad; Poland; Slovenia; Portugal; Uzbekistan; Yemen; Viet Nam; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Sri Lanka; Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; Slovakia; Australia; Ethiopia; Nepal; Equatorial Guinea; Senegal; Burkina Faso; Maldives; Kenya; Argentina; Mauritius; Ghana; Uganda; Iraq; New Zealand; Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire. 5