US rights groups accuse Egypt of abusing its UNHRC voting rights

US rights groups accuse Egypt of abusing its UNHRC voting rights

 A report committed to assessing the 12th through 14th sessions of the UNHRC, Freedom House described Egypt as an “authoritarian regime” which continued to bring political pressure to bear on UNHRC decisions.
 
According to the report Egypt, China and Cuba have been the leading models demonstrating the repression against their citizens and in turn influencing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to follow suit.
 
“These authoritarian states invest tremendous energy and resources in the council and exert strong political pressure on other countries in their regions or spheres of influence”.


The US-based human rights watchdog Freedom House accused Egypt of exploiting its voting rights in the United Nations Human Rights Council noting that Egypt has also restricted the activities of local NGOs weakening the role of independent human rights advocates during council sessions.


According to Gamal Eid, head of the Cairo-based Arab Network for Human Rights Information, Egypt abuses its regional relations by coordinating with other oppressive states as it continues to thwart the independent and local human rights organizations commentary session allowing it only two minutes to submit its reports.