Human rights defenders in Egypt are subjected to acts of harassment, restrictions on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association, restrictions on freedom of movement, restrictive legislation, stigmatisation, ill-treatment, torture and violent attacks.

Lawyers, journalists, physicians, bloggers and other human rights defenders who defend victims of torture or seek to expose violations committed by the authorities have been subjected to harassment including physical assault, detention and judicial proceedings, while impunity still enjoyed by perpetrators. Peaceful demonstrations in defense of human rights have been violently dispersed by members of the police.

Non-governmental organisations (NGO) in Egypt are active in the defense of various human rights including freedom of expression, freedom of religion, women's and minority rights, right to adequate housing, right to physical integrity, right to health, right to a fair trial and equal protection of the law, right to education, right to choose representatives in the governments, refugee rights, and children's rights.

There are concerns that the emergency anti-terrorism legislation may be used to restrict or undermine the work of peaceful human rights defenders. NGOs are still encountering problems with Law 84 of 2002, which came into force in June 2003. The legislation provides the Executive with several means and venues to exercise political control over the work of NGOs, including restricting their access to foreign funding, restricting their ability to join international associations. The law also provide the government with wide powers of dissolution. Reports claim that during the registration process, NGOs often deal more with the Office of State Security than with the Ministry of Solidarity and Social Affairs. During 2008, Front Line had reported on cases of two human rights groups that were closed by administrative orders. The two groups were allowed to work again after more than one year of consistent efforts and campaigning.

The Egyptian Government has been playing an active role at the regional and international levels to undermine the role of NGOs and human rights defenders, including its efforts at the UN Human Rights Council to restrict the scope of the mandate on human rights defenders, to limit the role of NGOs in relation to the Universal Periodic Review as well as to avoid its broadcasting.