Ambassador Moushira Khattab discusses "the role of youth in promoting a culture of human rights" and the signing of a cooperation protocol between the university and the National Council for Human Rights

Within the framework of the cultural season of Ain Shams University, the Community Service and Environmental Development Sector, the Education and Student Affairs Sector, and the University's Human Rights Committee, in cooperation with the National Council for Human Rights, organized a symposium entitled "The Role of Youth in Promoting a Culture of Human Rights", Ain Shams University received Ambassador Moushira Khattab, President of the National Council for Human Rights, and Representative Tariq Radwan, Chairman of the Human Rights Committee in the House of Representatives, under the auspices of Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini, President of Ain Shams University, Prof. Dr. Abdel Fattah Saoud, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs, and Prof. Dr. Ayman Saleh, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, and Prof. Dr. Ghada Farouk, Acting Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development.

Coordinator of the seminar Prof. Dr. Shahira Samir, Executive Director of the International Relations and Academic Cooperation Sector and Chair of the University's Human Rights Committee, and Prof. Dr. Jihan Rajab, Advisor to the Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development.

On the sidelines of the symposium, a cooperation protocol will be signed between Ain Shams University and the National Council for Human Rights in order to achieve fruitful cooperation in implementing the national strategy for human rights.

And in his speech of Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini, President of Ain Shams University, valued the efforts made by Ambassador Moushira Khattab, President of the National Council for Human Rights, His Excellency also welcomed the attendees and affirmed his happiness with the effort made between the two sides in order to implement the national strategy for human rights.

His Excellency also referred to the importance of the role of youth as the future of Egypt, stressing the necessity of graduating, striving, and caring for self-development and scientific research capabilities to reach the desired goals that will always be reflected mainly on the state and its capabilities.

His Excellency added that a decision was taken by the Supreme Council of Universities to set courses for social issues amounting to 6 courses, including human rights, the population problem, literacy, and climate change, and studying these courses is a condition of graduation, and they discuss important issues besides the study, and this course will be reviewed by the National Council for Human Rights to raise awareness and culture of students Ain-Shams University.

For her part, Ambassador Moushira Khattab, President of the National Council for Human Rights, expressed her happiness for her presence for the third time among the students of Ain Shams University, to exchange conversations with them about human rights, stressing that Ain Shams University is a great cultural force in society as it includes the most important group of society, namely the youth. Praising the community role played by the university headed by Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini, and extended my thanks and appreciation to the organizers of this meeting with the youth, who are the most important segment of society, with whom we are pleased to consult and listen.

Her Excellency also expressed her eagerness to know the student’s opinions on the human rights courses that will be taught in universities, which should be developed based on the student’s vision, stressing that good preparation has been made for this meeting, believing in the importance of youth and that the outcomes of the meeting will be taken into consideration.

She added that human rights are mean to solve intractable problems and is the most important issue in the world, stressing the extent of interest that His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi attaches to this issue, pointing to the launch of His Excellency the National Strategy for Human Rights, and this meeting comes within the framework of activating this strategy, touching on the strategy National Human Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

She also talked about the importance of setting controls for rights, as human rights are not absolute, but rather stand at the limits of the other party. She also explained that the National Strategy for Human Rights is a vision and a legal obligation on the state to promote human rights, and it is an obligation for every Egyptian man and woman without discrimination, pointing out that we have an opportunity Historic strategy that will contribute greatly to raising the ceiling of civil and political rights by declaring the National Strategy for Human Rights, which has a great deal for young people, as it is the first time that a national strategy for human rights has been announced by the President of the Republic.

Ambassador Moshira Khattab also discussed the powers of the National Council for Human Rights, pointing out that it is an independent advisory body, in accordance with the Paris Principles that determine the formation of national human rights councils, and that the membership of the Council takes into account the representation of all segments of society.

She also explained how to choose the members of the Council, noting that the current composition of the Council, which includes 27 members, was carried out according to a democratic process, as Parliament conducted a vote to select the members, and that the National Council for Human Rights, since its establishment in 2003, ranks (A) among the classifications of human rights councils globally, we hope to achieve all the aspirations of the Egyptian citizen.

She added that the National Council for Human Rights spreads awareness of human rights, trains various cadres, monitors the situation of human rights, and addresses problems related to human rights.

She spoke with the students about the criteria for selecting human rights ambassadors from among the students and the student’s role in modifying human rights curricula. Students were also chosen from among the audience as human rights ambassadors.

In response to a question posed by Prof. Dr. Ghada Farouk, Acting Vice President for Community Affairs and Environmental Development on Human Rights and Climate Change, Ambassador Moushira Khattab confirmed that Egypt’s hosting of the Summit of States Parties represents a historic event, especially since meetings and agreements have been held in an effort to confront the phenomenon of climate change and its dangerous effects on all countries. She stressed that climate change is an issue related to human rights because it is a man-made phenomenon and that governments and civil society organizations must join efforts to mitigate it, stressing that the climate change crisis is a global crisis that requires effective international cooperation.

In his speech, Deputy Tariq Radwan, Chairman of the Human Rights Committee in the House of Representatives, expressed his happiness and pride in being among the ancient Ain Shams University, stressing the role and harmony of the country's partners in consolidating human rights and affirming his keenness to listen to students and hear their ideas and point of view.

His Excellency invited the students of Ain Shams University to visit the House of Representatives and conduct a community dialogue to find out about the culture of human rights in Egypt, in line with the goals and principles of the "new republic", based on the human right to a decent life and development guaranteed to him by the Egyptian constitution and which the state is committed to preserving and protecting.

Mr. Abdel-Gawad Ahmed, a lawyer in cassation, and member of the National Council for Human Rights, thanked Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini, President of Ain Shams University, Ambassador Moushira Khattab, President of the National Council for Human Rights, for achieving this cooperation between the two sides to enhance efforts to achieve human rights adopted by the Council and the state’s appreciation for civil work.

Prof. Dr. Shahira Samir, Executive Director of the International Relations and Academic Cooperation Sector, welcomed the attendees from Ain Shams University, the National Council for Human Rights, and the university students, expressing her great pleasure in the fruitful cooperation between the university and the National Council for Human Rights and the signing of a cooperation protocol between the two sides in order to achieve fruitful cooperation in implementing the national strategy for human rights to ensure Continuity of cooperation between the two institutions.

A discussion was also opened between the guests of the symposium and the university students, in which Ambassador Mushira Khattab and Deputy Tariq Radwan answered the questions and inquiries of the students.

At the end of the meeting, Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Meteini honored Ambassador Mushira Khattab and Deputy Tariq Radwan.