Harm Reduction International welcomes the opportunity of reporting to the Working Group for the Universal Periodic Review on the implementation of key recommendations accepted by Egypt in  2014, during the second cycle of Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

This submission focuses specifically on the recommendations relevant to Egyptian drug policy and its impact on the enjoyment of human rights, in particular: the death penalty for drug offences; and the right to health of people who use drugs.

During the latest UPR cycle, Egypt accepted several recommendations directly relevant to the rights of people who use drugs or are involved in the drug market. Among others, Egypt accepted  recommendations to: “Continue to take measures to strengthen the institutional and legal framework for the protection of human rights” and “intensify its efforts towards the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, including in relation to the right to health.”

Egypt received several recommendations on the death penalty, of which it accepted two. Notably, the recommendation was accepted to “take measures to ensure due process and fair trials, particularly in any proceeding that could entail the application of the death penalty.”4 The many recommendations to establish a moratorium on executions were only noted.