• The Republican Decree issuing Law No. (152) of 2001, amending some provisions of Law No.(396) of 1956 on prisons regulation by abolishing lashing punishment identified in article No.(43) of the said law.
  
  
• The Republican Decree issuing Law No. (95) of 2003 abolishing Law No. (105) of 1980 establishing State Security Courts, and amending some provisions of Penal and Criminal Procedures Codes. Hence the penalties of hard labor (with its two types; penal servitude and provisional penal servitude) were amended to life-sentence imprisonment or imprisonment.
  

• Issuance of the Ministerial Decree No. (668) of 2002 abolishing lashing punishment; in the framework of the policy of the ministry which aims at maintaining the dignity of sentenced persons. The punishment was stopped by a decision from the Minister of Interior during the year 2000 while the Law abolishing it was issued in 2001.
  
  
• Issuance of the Ministerial Decree No. (691) of 1998 on the treatment of prisoners: the march of reform in the field of prisoners’ welfare proceeded by amending the provisions and rules of prisoners' treatment. Prisoners' nutrition schedules have also been amended according to the studies performed by Prisons Sector and the National Nutrition Institute at the Ministry of Health. The costs of nutrition share after amendments reached more than the double of the costs of the abolished nutrition shares. By virtue of that amendment, the meals of the prisoners were modified to equal the average meals of the members of middle class in society. The decision of the Minister also added a nutrition system for sick, pregnant, feeding mothers and babies.
  
  
• Activating the rule of parole: Early release with its different types has important positive effects in prisoners’ morals, especially those who are sentenced with penal servitude. It also supports the security of prisons as it encourages prisoners to follow good morals, which is considered one of the most important conditions to be eligible for parole.
  

In the framework of Interior Ministry consideration to prisoners’ human rights, and application of modern penal policies, an examination committee has been formed comprising members from Prisons Sector and other security bodies concerned, to monthly review the situation of persons who will be granted the parole. The committee interviews them and examines their files with the aim to issue a decision about releasing those who meet the conditions. The above mentioned committee has begun its work from July, 2004 and has been approved by the public opinion, prisoners and those concerned with human rights and prisoners' affairs.

• In the framework of Interior Ministry consideration to prisoners’ human rights, and application of modern penal policies, an examination committee has been formed comprising members from Prisons Sector and other security bodies concerned, to monthly review the situation of persons who will be granted the parole. The committee interviews them and examines their files with the aim to issue a decision about releasing those who meet the conditions. The above mentioned committee has begun its work from July, 2004 and has been approved by the public opinion, prisoners and those concerned with human rights and prisoners' affairs.
  
  
• Removing the wire barrier between the prisoners and their families during the visit: Considering prisoners’ human rights, Minister of Interior has ratified a decision allowing sentenced persons, who behave well, to receive their families without barriers to maintain their dignity. The step was approved by public opinion, prisoners and human rights organizations including the National Council for Human Rights. Implementation of that step began from the middle of September 2004.
  
  
• Activating the rule of parole: Early release with its different types has important positive effects in prisoners’ morals, especially those who are sentenced with penal servitude. It also supports the security of prisons as it encourages prisoners to follow good morals, which is considered one of the most important conditions to be eligible for parole.
  

• Removing the wire barrier between the prisoners and their families during the visit: Considering prisoners’ human rights, Minister of Interior has ratified a decision allowing sentenced persons, who behave well, to receive their families without barriers to maintain their dignity. The step was approved by public opinion, prisoners and human rights organizations including the National Council for Human Rights. Implementation of that step began from the middle of September 2004.
  
  
• Activating the rules of outer visits period… which grant some prisoners the advantage of going out directly via the prison gate to visit their families for (48 hours) when they fulfill the conditions needed for that. Measures needed for applying those rules have been recently reviewed and the number of cases that meet those conditions were counted and listed. The Minister of Interior ordered the security committees held in prisons to examine the status of those who will be granted parole according to Article No. (18) of Prisons Law and every case is presented to the Minister himself for approval.
  
  
• Considering the human dimension in treating prisoners: Ministry of Interior has paid great attention to prisoners’ human treatment. Minister of Interior has added a new aspect of human treatment that has been welcomed by prisoners and their families and praised by penal execution activists at the national and international levels. He has given instructions and approved that many prisoners may go out to participate in their social occasions such as marriage/ death of their family members. The Minister has also given directives for exceptional visits in religious occasions (Muslim and Christian), in addition to national days.
  
  
• Receiving and guiding prisoners: Committees formed for that purpose are responsible for receiving prisoners and defining the way of treatment for every prisoner through rehabilitation programs suitable for each. Those committees include:
  
  
  
  • Prison physician, who is responsible for medical examination of new comers to identify their health status and separating the sick persons and treating them according to their cases.
    
    
  • Social worker, who is responsible for studying the case of every prisoner separately and issuing a social research about the prisoner social condition and the crime he committed to identify the suitable rehabilitation program.
    

• Receiving complaints concerning human rights that are delivered by prisoners, citizens or bodies; studying and examining them in coordination with the security bodies concerned.
  
  
• Affording technical consultations for Sector’s departments to enhance capabilities in the field of human rights and develop prisoners’ treatment in coordination with the security bodies concerned.
  
  
• Contributing in spreading the culture of human rights and rendering those working in prisons fully aware of that culture.
  
  
• Finally, developing qualification and evaluation programs according to what have been mentioned above in addition to the trust in the Egyptian Penal System, made many Arab countries submit requests to send their officers to be trained in the training institute affiliated to the Prisons Sector. The committee of Defense and National Security at the People's Assembly, headed by Mr. Fathy Kozman visited one of the prisons during March 2004 to check the development made by the Ministry in prisons. The committee members checked the modern buildings, equipments and production institutions and became fully aware of the development in penal policies according to the instructions of the Ministry of Interior. The Committee members expressed their admiration with what they witnessed in the different fields of work in prisons.