International Criminal Court (ICC) — this year’s World Day for International Justice comes amid a fierce wave of attacks and mounting pressure aimed at obstructing the ICC’s ability to carry out its role of prosecuting perpetrators of the gravest international crimes and combating impunity worldwide.

Over the past two years, the International Criminal Court has faced the most intense and sustained assault on its authority since the Rome Statute entered into force in 2002. This is not the first instance of such hostility. The ICC has been subjected to multifaceted pressures from various states seeking to impede its work — ranging from efforts to thwart ratification and accession processes to legislative threats such as the 2003 Hague Invasion Act.

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Cairo: May 14, 2025

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed concern on May 13, 2025 over the recent adoption of Egypt’s draft Criminal Procedures Law and the associated allegations of violations therein. The statement highlighted that the proposed legislation grants the Public Prosecution extensive discretionary authority in matters of pretrial detention, raising alarms about potential overreach.

The OHCHR further noted that the draft law includes provisions that broaden the scope for communications surveillance, impose travel bans, and curtail the right to legal defense. Additional concerns were raised regarding the unwarranted expansion of judicial police powers and the absence of mechanisms for ensuring legal accountability of law enforcement personnel.

The statement pointed out that amendments to the draft law were introduced prior to its submission to the President of the Republic, yet these changes were not made public—an action viewed as undermining the principle of legislative transparency.

The OHCHR urged the President of the Republic to examine the draft legislation prior to its ratification to ensure Egypt’s full alignment with its obligations under international human rights conventions.

The statement comes within the OHCHR’s efforts to follow up on the draft Criminal Procedures Law due to its profound implications for the protection of human rights and adherence to fair trial standards.

Cairo, 29 April 2025

The Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and Legal Profession (ACIJLP) expresses its profound concern and deep regret over the Egyptian parliament’s approval, on 29 April 2025, of the draft Criminal Procedures Law. The ACIJLP has consistently warned of the detrimental implications this legislation poses to Egypt’s criminal justice system. The ACIJLP reiterates its rejection of the amendments to the Criminal Procedures Law, which undermine the constitutional and legal rights of citizens to a fair and impartial trial in accordance with internationally recognized standards. These rights must be safeguarded throughout the entire judicial process—from the moment of arrest and investigation to trial and appeals. Of particular concern is the law’s failure to uphold essential procedural safeguards related to home and personal searches, as well as the interception of private communications.

 To read the full statement, please open the link