Last Friday, The Egyptian Association for the Advancement of Persons with Disabilities and Autism, headed by Maha Hilali, extended its sincere congratulations to Dr. Heba Hagras, a member of the National Council for Women, for earning the position of Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities at the United Nations.
Hagras received the nomination to assume that prestigious position from the advisory group headed by Abdul Karim Hashem Mustafa (Iraq).
Dr. Heba Hagras is a member of the Board of Directors and rapporteur of the Women with Disabilities Committee of the National Council for Women, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities, and a member of the High Commission for Human Rights in Egypt.
She is also a former member of the Egyptian Parliament and the former Secretary-General of the National Council for Disability Affairs in Egypt. He is a founding member of the Arab Organization for Persons with Disabilities in the Arab region, a member of the peer review mechanism of the African Union in Egypt, and leader of the drafting team for the Second Arab Decade for Persons with Disabilities 2023-2032 for the League of Arab States.
Moreover, Hagras has numerous publications on the rights of persons with disabilities. She holds a BA in Business Administration, an MA in Sociology and Anthropology from the American University in Cairo, and a Ph.D. in Sociology and Social Policy from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.
It is worth noting that Dr. Heba Hagras applied for the position among 15 qualified candidates, and the advisory group decided to recommend three candidates, headed by Dr. Heba Hagras, as the best qualified to fulfill the duties of the position.
The advisory team noted Dr. Hegras’ skills relevant to the position, including her ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders and her commitment to the human rights of persons with disabilities.
The advisory group also pointed to its diverse and extensive experience in the field of office at the national, regional, and international levels, including with the Egyptian Parliament, the League of Arab States, and civil society. The Advisory Group further noted that while Dr. Hagras stressed the importance of continuing the work done by previous mandate holders, she clearly stated her priorities for continuing to develop the duties of the position.
