The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has reported that several UN Special Procedures mechanisms have issued an official allegation letter to the Egyptian government regarding the situation of refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt—particularly Sudanese refugees—highlighting serious violations they face. The communication was submitted under the Human Rights Council’s Special Procedures system, referenced as AL EGY 6/2025.
According to the content of the UN letter, experts expressed grave concern over the deteriorating conditions of refugees in Egypt, citing severe threats to their fundamental rights, including the lack of adequate services and support for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, and the absence of effective protection mechanisms.
The letter also underscored serious violations against refugee children, especially unaccompanied minors, alongside documented cases of arbitrary arrest and detention of refugees and asylum seekers, and breaches of the principle of non-refoulement, a cornerstone of international refugee law.
Further concerns included delays in refugee registration, which expose individuals to legal, security, and humanitarian risks, as well as rising patterns of exploitation and human trafficking, particularly targeting women and girls—manifested in gender-based violence, discrimination, and barriers to accessing international protection.
The letter noted that since the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, approximately 1.5 million Sudanese refugees have fled to Egypt, according to UNHCR data, exacerbating pressures on living and protection conditions amid insufficient responses to safeguard their rights.
This communication follows previous UN engagement with the Egyptian government regarding the national asylum law and its impact on the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. Issued jointly by multiple UN mandates, the letter carries significant political and legal weight, reflecting the seriousness of the concerns raised.
CFJ stressed that this UN letter represents a clear international warning against the continuation of violations targeting refugees in Egypt. The committee urged Egyptian authorities to urgently respond to the UN observations, ensure compliance with international obligations, end all forms of arbitrary detention and forced returns, and guarantee access to protection and essential services—particularly for Sudanese refugees, women, and children—in a manner that upholds their dignity and fundamental rights.
