After the outbreak of the January 2011 revolution, the Interior Ministry began a new era based on respect for fundamental freedoms and communication with civil society groups on security and human rights issues, Interior Minister Ahmed Gamal Eddin said on Wednesday.
The ministry will never gloss over any abuses committed by its officers, Gamal Eddin told the directors of several human rights NGOs in a meeting at his office.
The minister said the role of civil society groups is as important as that of the state and its bodies, praising the organizations’ effort to promote a human rights culture in Egypt.
The NGOs welcomed cooperation with the ministry and its bodies, calling for that cooperation to be reinforced for a better future for human rights.
Rights activist Nijad al-Buraie described the meeting, which was held by invitation from the minister, as "fruitful" and said it comes at a critical time.
Buraie added that the meeting, together with an earlier one with Justice Minister Ahmed Mekky, denoted a state trend toward the respect of human rights.