“Accountability Review” | A Study by the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights on Economic and Social Rights Legislation (2021–2025 Parliament)

Coinciding with the swearing-in of newly elected members of the House of Representatives and the convening of the first sessions of its third legislative term, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR) releases a documentary and analytical study entitled “An Accountability Review of Economic and Social Rights in the Legislation of the House of Representatives.”

This study constitutes a systematic and methodologically grounded effort to monitor and assess the legislative output enacted by the House of Representatives during its concluded parliamentary term. It examines the extent to which this legislative output aligns with the economic and social rights guaranteed by the Constitution, as well as with the State’s obligations toward its citizens, within the context of an exceptionally severe economic and social environment.

Prepared by economic researcher Elhami El-Mirghani and edited by Mahmoud Hashem, the study is based on a comprehensive review and analysis of laws enacted by the House of Representatives and published in the Official Gazette, together with their implementing and supplementary decisions. It seeks to present an integrated overview of the orientations of the legislative authority, not only through enacted legislation, but also through parliamentary approvals of loans and financial agreements, deliberations on the State’s general budget, and the resulting direct implications for economic and social rights.

This legislative accountability review focuses on the positioning of core rights—such as the right to education, the right to health, the right to work, the right to adequate housing, and tax justice—within the legislative framework produced by Parliament. It further analyzes the impact of these laws on the distribution of economic burdens and public resources, the evolving relationship between the State and its citizens, and the State’s social and economic responsibilities.

The study also documents the process of adopting annual state budgets, levels of public expenditure, and the proportion allocated to debt interest and principal repayments, compared with expenditure on social sectors. It critically examines the role of the House of Representatives in endorsing these fiscal and economic policies and evaluates the extent to which it exercised its constitutionally mandated functions of oversight and accountability.

Relying on legal texts and official data, the study presents a rigorously documented accountability review that enables readers to assess parliamentary legislative performance, understand the nature of the economic and social policy choices entrenched through legislation, and identify the actors and social groups that ultimately bear their tangible costs.

Overall, the study aims to contribute meaningfully to the public debate on the role of Parliament in the protection of economic and social rights. It offers a robust analytical reference for use in human rights advocacy and academic research, and as a basis for demanding legislation that prioritizes social justice and the rights of citizens, rather than shifting the burden of crises and imposed policies onto them.

About the Researcher

Elhami Mohamed Mohamed El-Mirghani is an economic researcher and management consultant with over 43 years of professional experience in economic and administrative consultancy. Born in 1955, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Faculty of Commerce, Cairo University, in 1977.

El-Mirghani began his professional career in 1979 as a researcher at the Central Agency for Organization and Administration, before holding a range of positions in governmental and private-sector institutions. These include the Center for Planning and Architectural Studies, the Saudi Environmental Projects Company (SEPCO), and the El-Saggini Center for Economic and Administrative Consultancy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he provided specialized advisory services in organizational development and administrative reform.

He has contributed to numerous studies and reform initiatives in the field of organization and management, including the restructuring of ministries and public institutions, the development of major companies and organizations, and the preparation of economic feasibility studies across diverse sectors. His work has covered small-scale enterprises, economic development strategies, and strategic planning. He has also authored numerous research papers and studies on economic and administrative issues, published in a range of Egyptian newspapers and academic and professional journals.

Throughout his career, El-Mirghani has designed and delivered training programs for companies and individuals in areas such as corporate restructuring, performance and productivity enhancement, and financial management. He has participated in numerous workshops and academic seminars and has published several books and studies that have made a significant contribution to the fields of economics and development in Egypt and the wider Arab region.

In addition to his extensive professional experience, El-Mirghani is a member of several scientific and professional associations, including the Association of Political Economy and Statistics and the Egyptian Scientific Society for Management. He has also been actively engaged with civil society organizations working in the fields of social and economic development.

Full study available at:

An Accountability Review of Economic and Social Rights in the Legislation of the House of Representatives (2021–2025)