CLOSING OF THE NATIONAL SEMINAR ON ‘MODERNIZING PENAL LEGISLATION IN EGYPT’ BY AGREEING TO CONTINUE THE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE AND ADOPT THE OUTPUTS

April 8, 2019: The National Seminar on "Modernization of Penal Legislation in Egypt", which started on 6 April, was held in Cairo this evening and discussed five issues related to modernizing the law system in Egypt.
The seminar is part of the international project on strengthening the role of civil society in promoting criminal justice and reducing the death penalty implemented by the Arab Organization for Human Rights in cooperation with the organization Hands off Cain. The seminar was held in partnership with the National Council for Human Rights in Egypt.
The seminar was concluded by Mr. Alaa Shalabi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Organization for Human Rights, Imad Al-Faki, Professor of Criminal Law, Advisor Yaser Nabil of the Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives, and Counselor Mohammed Abdel Rahman.
The seminar was attended by 22 speakers on the subject of modernizing penal philosophy; revising the penal code with a view to modernizing it; ways to reduce the death penalty in legislation; judicial enforcement and encouraging the initiatives of the president's decisions to reduce prison sentences. To reduce the number of convicts, in addition to promoting reconciliation between perpetrators and blood cells, and provide legislative and political elements to move to suspend the implementation of the punishment.
The work of the symposium also dealt with the development of the proposals submitted to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure, and expedited its decision as it is the main entrance to activate the Constitution. In addition to discussing the mechanisms of applying alternative penalties and drafting a bill that also includes alternative measures for imprisonment and pre-trial detention, and ways to activate more in line with the new legislation distinguished in the field of protection of the groups most in need of criminal care.
The seminar papers included presentations, working papers and draft laws that are presented or to be submitted.
It was also agreed to invite participants from the State, civil society and specialized national councils to work with the scientific team set up by the Organization to prepare the amendments to the Penal Code issued in 1937 in a different modern context with a view to updating it.
The seminar was attended by representatives of human rights groups, civil society organizations, universities, law schools, research centers, the human rights committee of the Tawab Council, the Supreme Judicial Council, the Attorney General's Office, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and House Affairs.
Representatives of the Egyptian civil society and the National Council for Human Rights met under the auspices of the Arab Organization for Human Rights with representatives of the executive, legislative and judicial authorities last October in open and closed sessions to prepare an integrated national dialogue process to deal with the criminal law system and the development of the administration of justice. (Sources: aohr.net, 07/04/2019)