Individuals who cooperated with SR on housing: community leaders

Cases
Location of case in SG report
2019-035-002
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2019
Country Geolocation

Latitude: 26.820553

Longitude: 30.802498

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
Egypt
From Region
UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report
  • UN Special Procedures: Thematic
Dates of prior UN action
2 November 2018
Type of record
Unnamed individual/group/organization
Was the victim a foreign national?
No
Was the victim a minor?
No
Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Reported trigger of reprisal

individuals who cooperated with the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing during her visit to Egypt from 24 September to 3 October 2018

Engagement with UN body
  • UN Special Procedures: thematic
Dates of engagement
from 24 September to 3 October 2018
Type of attempted engagement
  • Meeting with UN officials during country visit / with locally present UN officials
Dates of mentioned reprisals
after SR visit
Reprisal information

allegations of forced evictions and violations of the rights to physical integrity, liberty and security in what appeared to be “a pattern” of acts of intimidation and reprisals against individuals who cooperated with the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing during her visit to Egypt from 24 September to 3 October 2018

Already at the conclusion of her visit, the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing expressed that “one of the most challenging aspects was to access individuals, families and organizations defending the right to housing."

Prior to the visit, individuals reported phone calls by Government officials enquiring whether they intended to meet the Special Rapporteur. After the visit, individuals reported being followed by unknown persons and photographed in their place of residence; house demolitions and forced evictions against community leaders who met the Special Rapporteur; the undisclosed detention of one resident for two days and a physical attack against one witness. 72 It was reported that one person fled Egypt for security reasons following the visit.

Types of reprisals suffered
  • Property damage/raid/search/confiscation
Alleged/likely perpetrators
State actors
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
No
Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
No
Government response dates
1 January 2019
Government response content

Government responded to the concerns of special procedures, 73 expressing that it contained “numerous unfounded allegations, including intimidations and demolition of homes, without any details about the individuals in question or the areas.” It noted that the authorities were unable to verify allegations and initiate investigations as insufficient details were provided. The Government confirmed its full respect and observance of the assurances given that no one would be subject to intimidation or reprisal in relation to the visit.

Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
No
Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
No
Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
No
How many times has the case been followed up in subsequent SG reports?
0