Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has repeatedly asserted that women’s empowerment has crowned joint international efforts exerted over the past period to protect and enhance women rights at the political, economic and social levels. Women make up one half of society, hence they should be supported to guarantee the constant sustainable development.
Egyptian Women Day 2024
During a recent function to mark the Egyptian Women Day 2024, President Sisi said Egyptian women every day epitomise service and self-sacrifice for her family and her country.
The President went on to say that the Egyptian woman is a pillar of security and stability in the homeland and a source of inspiration of endless sacrifices, as she has spared no effort for the sake of preserving her country’s progress and stability. Women are always source of inspiration for others and they always work earnestly to protect and serve their families and homeland.
The president added that he had issued directives for the establishment of a family care fund to help women continue to earn a living if she finds herself in a predicament in which there is no one to support her.
Steps towards gender equality, women’s empowerment
Egypt has over the past few years made progress in gender equality and women’s empowerment. In 2019, Egypt celebrated the 100th anniversary of participation of Egyptian women in public life. Egypt was among the first countries to outline a national strategy for women’s empowerment at economic, social and political levels. Egypt has amended legislation which guarantees full equality and equal opportunities in a way leading to supporting their influential participation in the social activities without any distinction along with securing their protection against all forms of violence and harassment.
The government supports women’s constitutional rights and has turned them into laws and executive strategies, which has led to a greater presence of women in parliament (26 per cent), in municipal councils (25 per cent) and deputy governors (31 per cent). Women won 148 seats in 2021 parliamentary elections, an unprecedented women’s representation. Women have recently joined the judges’ panel and assumed important positions such as governor and adviser for national security.
WDO based in Cairo
Egypt is hosting the premises of the Arab Women Organization, an affiliate of the Arab League. Egypt was chosen to host the premises of the Women Development Organisation (WDO), an affiliate to the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).
This entity is a promising one that works on enhancing the role of women, guaranteeing their empowerment and achieving gender equality within the framework of the joint Islamic action.
Women’s role in peace
Egypt affirmed the importance of enhancing women’s participation and their active contribution in peace talks and building peace. Cairo has sustained its utmost efforts to implement the agenda of women, peace and security. Egypt has been an influential contributor in the formulation of an Arab regional strategy to put into effect UNSC Resolution No.1325 within the framework of the Arab League to comply with the nature of the Arab region as regards halting the suffering of Palestinian women in the occupied Palestinian territories, promote women role in combating terrorism and extremist thought.
Gender equality, women’s empowerment and enhancement of women rights are the main pillars for achieving any progress in communities and fulfilling the goals of sustainable development. Protection and enhancement of human rights cannot be fully achieved without ensuring protection to women rights and their empowerment in accordance with relevant international charters and agreements.
Status of women in political life
The Egyptian woman in the era of President Sisi has received significant attention. This was manifested in the first speech of the president after winning the presidential elections, when he promised that woman shall have a role in political life, and a fair share in the House of Deputies, and that obstacles facing her in the executive posts shall be overcome.
The status of women in political parties has witnessed a big development after June 30 Revolution, especially in the liberal parties. Many of the Egyptian parties have women committees.
The first parliamentary elections after the June 30 Revolution witnessed a marked increase in the proportion of women, and their estimated rate was about 17.19 per cent, where 949 candidates out of 5518 took part.
Egypt’s 2014 Constitution, approved after June 30 Revolution, is considered a positive step towards the adoption of women’s rights and citizenship as it paid special attention to women, either in the preamble or in the articles. Furthermore, it stressed that the woman is not only a class of the society, but she is also half of the society, and constitutes the foundation of the family.
Women’s strategy 2030
The Egyptian National Women’s Strategy 2030 envisions that by 2030, “Egyptian women will become active contributors to the achievement of sustainable development in a nation that guarantees their constitutional rights, ensures their full protection, and provides — without discrimination — political, social, and economic opportunities that enable them to develop their capacities and achieve their full potential.”
Egyptian women are living their “golden era” during the term of President Sisi, head of the National Council for Women Maya Morsy has said.
Women assume high-profile posts
For the first time in Egypt’s history, women are now allowed into the State Council and the Public Prosecution. State Council approved for the first time the appointment of a number of female members to the council as per the presidential directives, she said in recent press remarks. Women make up 43 per cent of doctors and 92 per cent of nurses who work for the government. Up to 50.7 per cent of staffers in the administrative bodies of the state are women. There’s 100 per cent equality in the pensions of men and women.
FGM criminalized
Female genital mutilation (FGM) has been criminalised and its punishment toughened to be 5-15 years in prison depending on the extent of the injury and whether the perpetrator is a medical practitioner. A new, independent law to categorically ban early marriage is to be enacted to prevent marriage before 18 years of age.Women were always the main reason behind massive national projects, according to recent presidential statement.
Gov’t initiatives for women
Meanwhile, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala el-Saeed highlighted the projects and initiatives that put Egyptian women at the forefront, including the presidential initiative Decent Life, which targeted around 26 million Egyptian women, aiming to improve the quality of life for Egyptian families.
She also mentioned various presidential initiatives aimed at improving women’s health services, such as the initiative to support women’s health and support for maternal and fetal health, with over 47 million screenings conducted for women.
El-Saeed pointed out the state’s efforts in economic empowerment for women, including financing for small and micro-enterprises, reaching approximately 88 billion pounds by the end of 2023, benefiting nearly 5 million beneficiaries, compared to about 6 billion pounds for 2 million beneficiaries by the end of 2016. Additionally, she mentioned efforts in financial inclusion for women, with around 20 million women having bank accounts by the end of 2023.
She also highlighted successful partnerships to build the capacities of young female leaders, aiming to inject new blood of women into various institutions. She noted the partnership between the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and the National Council for Women in various programmes and projects, notably the project Increasing Women’s Participation in Public Life in Egypt, which aimed to develop women’s leadership capacities and support their contribution to the state’s developmental efforts. She said in the Women’s Index in the boards of directors, both in the Egyptian Stock Exchange and the banking and non-banking financial sectors, the index has increased from 19 per cent last year to 23 per cent this year, with a target to reach 30 per cent of women in boards of directors by 2030.
