[JURIST] UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official profile] released a statement [text] on Thursday reenforcing the need for any new Egyptian draft law should respect human rights standards. The statement came as concern over increased convictions of international NGO personnel mounts. Ban reiterated the UN’s commitment to helping the Egyptian government and its people through a successful democratic transition. Following the Egyptian revolution [JURIST backgrounder], Egypt’s legislature has been unstable. The bodies continue to pass draft laws in an attempt to stabilize the transition. This statement calls for the government to keep human rights concerns in mind when taking such action.

Earlier this month Egypt’s high court ruled [JURIST report] Egypt’s legislative bodies were illegally elected. Last month Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court found provisions of the nation’s revised parliament and election law invalid [JURIST report] under the Egyptian constitution. In April several Egyptian opposition groups filed a lawsuit [JURIST report] demanding the government open up the draft budget for public debate. Ban’s statement echoes concern raised [JURIST report] by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay [official profile] in March.