Egypt votes in favour of resolution commemorating six decades of the International Covenants
Author : Ingy Ihab Published at : Mar 27, 2026
Ingy Ihab
On the 27th of March, the Human Rights Council met in its 61st regular session in order to discuss draft resolutions on safeguarding human rights, ensuring their immediate protection, and strengthening legal frameworks, institutions, and collective commitments so they remain upheld for generations to come.
One of those resolutions was draft resolution A/HRC/61/L.3 entitled the "Sixtieth anniversary of the adoption of the International Covenants on Human Rights", which was submitted by Russian Federation, Belarus, Ethiopia, Mali, Venezuela. The resolution:
· Calls upon States to join the Covenants if they have not yet done so.
· Encourages limiting, reviewing, and withdrawing reservations to the Covenants.
· Calls for strict compliance with obligations under the Covenants and their Optional Protocols.
· Invites the UN High Commissioner to organize and share information on an event aimed at celebrating the anniversary of the Covenants.
· Encourages States and UN bodies to intensify their own contributions to UN system-wide human rights efforts and actively participate in anniversary celebrations.
· Decides to hold a high-level panel discussion, accessible for persons with disabilitie, on the Covenants’ 60th anniversary.
· Recommends the General Assembly commemorate the anniversary at its 81st session.
Egypt voted in favor of this resolution reaffirming the central role of the covenants as the core stone of the International Himan Rights system and the binding obligations they entail on States. Egypt highlighted that it continues to engage constructively with the treaty bodies through the consideration of its national report by the Human Rights Committee and the submission of its report to the Committee on Economic Social, and Cultural rights.
Moreover, Egypt emphasized the importance of upholding a balanced and holistic approach to human rights, recognizing the equal significance of all rights and the need for their comprehensive and integrated promotion and protection. Egypt also addressed the right to formulate reservations emphasizing that such right must be addressed in a manner consistent with these principles and respectful of the states’ legal and constitutional frameworks.
In the same context, Egypt expressed its regret that the resolution was brought to a vote for reasons not related to its substance. Such practices risk politicizing the work of the Council including, where applicable, limitations on the prerogative of Member States to introduce initiatives within this body.
Finally, the resolution was adopted by a vote of 26 in favor and 21 abstentions.