ECESR to Host Roundtable on Refugee Issues Following the Enactment of Egypt’s First Asylum Law

The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR) is organizing a roundtable discussion titled “Refugee Issues in Egypt: Between Reality and Law” on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 6:00 PM.

The event will take place at the Center’s headquarters at 1 Sikka El-Fadl Street, off Talaat Harb Street, 3rd floor, Downtown Cairo.

The discussion will bring together leading legal experts, including Mr. Nasser Amin, Director of the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and a Counsel at the International Criminal Court, and Mr. Ashraf Milad, a Supreme Court lawyer and international refugee law expert who advises the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Other legal professionals and specialists in international law and refugee rights are also set to participate.

This event comes in the wake of Egypt’s Parliament passing the country’s first-ever asylum law, a milestone in formalizing refugee protections and regulations. The roundtable will examine the humanitarian and legal implications of this legislation, addressing its potential challenges, opportunities, and ambiguities.

The new law establishes a permanent committee on refugee affairs under the Prime Minister’s office to review asylum applications. It requires individuals who enter Egypt unlawfully to file asylum requests within 45 days to avoid penalties, such as fines or imprisonment. For applicants entering the country legally, the committee must decide on their cases within six months.

The legislation prioritizes the needs of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, pregnant women, unaccompanied minors, and victims of human trafficking or violence. It grants refugees essential rights, such as access to travel documents, protection from deportation, freedom of worship, and basic education and healthcare services.

At the same time, the law obliges refugees to respect Egypt’s legal framework and cultural traditions, prohibiting any actions that may threaten national security or public order.

This roundtable aims to analyze how this landmark legislation will shape the lives of refugees in Egypt, emphasizing the balance between upholding their rights and ensuring regulatory oversight in line with the country’s legal and humanitarian commitments.