Human rights groups call UN to act on Egypt

Fifteen international human rights organizations issued a letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council, exhorting the body to take a stand against ongoing violations in Egypt.

"At this critical juncture in Egypt’s history, at a time when peaceful political activists, human rights defenders and all forms of independent media in Egypt are under attack, we write to urge your delegation to work with other members and observer states of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) to address the grave situation of human rights in Egypt at the upcoming 25th Session of the UN HRC," said the letter.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, among others, sent the letter asking the Council to take a "principled position" vis-a-vis the declining human rights record in Egypt.

The groups cited excessive use of violence by security forces against protesters, restrictions on freedom of association, assembly and expression, arbitrary imprisonment of activists and journalists, and the failure to protect minorities and uphold women's rights.

"In this context the UN HRC should call on the Egyptian government to respect its international human rights obligations, ensure accountability for human rights violations within the country, and act in accordance with democratic principles," the letter read.

The groups called on the council to condemn the impunity with which these violations are committed, and to urge the Egyptian government to regulate the security forces' use of force in accordance with international human rights standards.

They also demanded the council to urge the Egyptian government to investigate the use of lethal force by the security against protesters and for total transparency regarding the progress in these investigations.

"The failure of the UN Human Rights Council to take up this crisis would greatly undermine its legitimacy and relevance, and further encourage the escalation of violence and repression in Egypt," the letter read.

Human rights groups aside, foreign states have also been critical of Egypt's human rights track record following the ouster of former president and Muslim Brotherhood affiliate Mohamed Morsi.

Last week, the US Department of State's Country Report on Egypt's human rights condition also condemned the government's failure to uphold rights and freedoms in Egypt. The report criticized Egypt for the same set of violations mentioned by human rights groups in their letter to the UN Human Rights Council.

Similarly, in February, the European Union foreign ministers issued a strongly worded statement criticizing violations in Egypt.

In both cases, Egyptian officials slammed the statements, accusing them of being imbalance and the respective governments of illegitimately intervening in sovereign affairs.