Laila Takla is the director of the United Nations Technical Assistance Progam, which funds awareness, not only of legal and human rights issues, but also of modern methods of investigation. But the program hasn t done much in Egypt because, according to Takla, there isn t the need. She argues that Egypt has an excellent Police Academy and human rights center, established by her husband, former academy director Abdel Karim Darwish. I think police officers here are highly qualified. The Police Academy is one of the best in the world.
Officers study the full law school curriculum, including public relations.
So they know what the law says. I think very few countries have that. Takla s benign views are shared by others. Naila Gabr, head of the Foreign Ministry s human rights unit, created in 1992, says she finds it hard to believe the abuse in the country s police stations is as widespread as is claimed. Her unit is involved in a dialogue with rights groups as well as with the Ministry of the Interior, State Security and the chief public prosecutors.