Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Indigenous and Tribal Populations Convention, 1957 (No. 107) - Egypt (Ratification: 1959)

The Committee notes the Government’s report which contains information with respect to the Bedouins which are covered by the Convention. Noting from the Report of the 2003 Working Group of Experts on Indigenous Populations/Communities of the African Commission of Peoples’ and Human Rights that Egypt has a Berber population, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application of the Convention in respect of this group as well. Further, the Committee also requests the Government to provide relevant information regarding the situation of the Nubians.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that attention was being paid to consultations with the sheiks of the tribes on matters related to them. It also notes that the Government has continued to establish settlements for the Bedouin population. The Government provided detailed information on development projects, including projects targeting women, and services provided in the regions where Bedouins live. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to promote the well-being of the Bedouin population in the social and economic fields and their traditional culture and livelihood activities. Considering it important that such measures respect the aspirations and initiative of the tribes concerned, the Committee requests the Government to provide further information on how the collaboration and consultation of the populations concerned and their representatives is ensured in the design and implementation of such measures. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate how many of the Bedouins continue to lead a nomadic lifestyle.

The Committee recalls its 1992 general observation in which it encourages States that have ratified Convention No. 107 to give serious consideration to ratifying the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169). The Committee requests the Government to indicate any developments that may have occurred in this regard.