Transgender and intersex individuals in Egypt face discriminatory laws, policies, and practices that violate their fundamental right to health. Since Egypt’s last Universal Periodic Review (UPR) cycle, these individuals have continued to encounter significant barriers to accessing equitable health services. Discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation remains pervasive, limiting the ability of transgender and intersex people to receive the healthcare they need.
In the framework of Egypt’s fourth UPR cycle, the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, together with Cairo 52 Legal Research Institute, have submitted an alternate report to the UPR Working Group regarding the discriminatory laws, policies, and practices that prevent transgender and intersex individuals in Egypt from the full enjoyment of their fundamental right to health.
The submission highlights how Egypt’s current medical policies fail to provide equal access to healthcare services for transgender and intersex individuals. In addition, there is a glaring lack of resources, equipment, and training for healthcare providers, which hinders their ability to effectively care for these populations. Moreover, the Egyptian government has not implemented anti-discrimination measures or public education campaigns to protect transgender and intersex people from stigma, harassment, and discrimination. These shortcomings contribute to the continued marginalization of transgender and intersex individuals, undermining their constitutionally protected rights to health and equality. The submission encourages states to make recommendations during the current UPR cycle to address these concerns and ensure that Egypt commits to its constitutional and international legal obligations, supported recommendations, and voluntary pledges made since the last review.
- The Right to Health for Transgender and Intersex Individuals in Egypt: Joint UPR Alternate Report
- The Right to Health for Transgender and Intersex Individuals in Egypt: UPR Advocacy Fact Sheet
The UPR is a mechanism of the UN created to examine the human rights records of all UN member states. It presents a unique opportunity for civil society organizations to underscore and highlight critical human rights issues taking place in the country under review, identify recommendations the country should implement in response, and hold the country to account under its international legal obligations. Egypt underwent its first UPR cycle in February 2010, its second in October 2014, and its third in November 2019. Egypt’s fourth UPR cycle is set to take place in January 2025.