UN Authority Figures

UN Post 9/11 Counter-Terrorism Committee (UNSC 1373)
Chair: Egypt


According to a report by International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), "under the pretext of a 'war on terror,' the security forces have embarked on a campaign of widescale repression of political opponents, actively supervised by the army, using sexual violence to crush, torture and humiliate".
Source: Deutsche Welle, May 15, 2015

Mission of the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC): "The Committee ... was tasked with monitoring implementation of resolution 1373 (2001), which requested countries to implement a number of measures intended to enhance their legal and institutional ability to counter terrorist activities at home, in their regions and around the world, including taking steps to: Criminalize the financing of terrorism; Freeze without delay any funds related to persons involved in acts of terrorism; Deny all forms of financial support for terrorist groups; Suppress the provision of safe haven; sustenance or support for terrorists; Share information with other governments on any groups practicing or planning terrorist acts; Cooperate with other governments in the investigation, detection, arrest, extradition and prosecution of those involved in such acts; and Criminalize active and passive assistance for terrorism in domestic law and bring violators to justice. " (The Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) website, "Our Mandate")

Egypt's Term of office: 2016-2017

Egypt's Record on Counter-Terrorism:
"During the summer international media reported the armed forces used indiscriminate force during military operations that targeted widespread terrorist activity in the northern Sinai Peninsula, resulting in some killings and destruction of property... On October 26, a group of editors in chief of major news outlets issued a statement committing to "refrain from publishing items that support terrorism and that call for undermining state institutions directly or indirectly," in a move that was widely interpreted as a commitment by these outlets not to provide critical coverage of President Sisi or his government. In response, hundreds of journalists signed a petition opposing the statement by the editors in chief... On September 21, the president issued Law 128 of 2014, amending Article 78 of the penal code, criminalizing the request for or acceptance of foreign funds, materiel, machines, weapons, ammunition, or "other things" from states or nongovernmental organizations "with the intent to harm the national interest." Violators may be sentenced to life in prison, or the death penalty in the case of public officials and for crimes committed during times of war or with "terrorist purpose." The broad language raised concern among civil society the new article could be used to prosecute NGOs receiving or requesting international funding. Some civil society activists asserted the government issued these orders in an intentionally vague manner to grant the government discretion to pursue criminal prosecutions against human rights organizations and activists... Due to the lack of clarity regarding the government's intentions for implementing Law 84 and the newly revised Article 78 of the penal code, in addition to reports of threats against human rights and civil society activists, some activists said they left the country and some organizations chose to close their offices or temporarily freeze their activities to protect themselves from potential legal action." (US State Department's Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2014, Egypt)