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STATUS OF WOMEN IN EGYPT

By Dr. Iman Bibars June 2013

During the Revolution WE SAW:


Women of all ages, class, education levels Women of different religions and backgrounds ALL OF THEM KEY PARTICIPANTS OF THE REVOLUTION!!!

Women were shoulder to shoulder with men

In all revolutions women work together with men, fearless they face the police brutality They deserve the same treatment after the revolution!

Women of every age : familiar

BUT

There are challenges to understand the REALITY of women


According to the Egyptian Center for Womens Rights (ECWR), Egypt country # 1 in the deterioration of women rights in the past 2 years Information is restricted by the government and Women NGOs suffered intense pressure from the Ministry of Social Affairs

violence against women:


a study confirmed that 60% of women are exposed to domestic violence, 88% have been subjected to FGC, and 38% were forced into early marriages. 97% experience sexual harassment

Egypt NOW
Organized sexual harassment : Women go home

Egyptian women stage a demonstration in Cairo calling for an end to sexual harassment of female protesters in Tahrir square on June 8 (Andre Pain, EPA / Landov)

. By Aya Batrawy and Sarah El Deeb -Associated Press Attackers got through a cordon of protectors. The victims were protesting sex abuse.

Egypt NOW
Call for marrying girls at 9 years old

Yemeni child bride a fact now

In the legal sphere

New laws against the Personal Status Law are being issued Women participation in creating the law has been restricted Push to decrease the age for early marriage

Egypt NOW
Womens pictures and voice are a sin Call to repeal all laws supporting women

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=561198897226775&set=pb.367061233307210.-2207520000.1354107032&type=3&theater

http://tundratabloids.com/2011/12/new-democratic-egypt-bust-up-real-pro-democracy-groups-like-freedom-house.html

In the political sphere


Egypt witnessed sever deterioration on the level of political rights of women retreating to level 125 out of 133 countries all over the world
World Economic Forum 2012.

Cancellation of women quota in parliament

Egypt now #128 out of 131 countries on women presence in the parliaments.

Targeting female activists


The systematic attack against the anchor Lamees Al-Hadidi, which reached assassination threats because of her positions. The accusation against the anchor Geehan Mansour of being an agent for foreign entities, which was also a part of the campaign against media and the siege of Media Production City.

Targeting female activists


Attacks against a large number of female photo journalists and reporters during their work in covering the protests and marches. Investigation with Manal Omar the psychiatric: accusing her of insulting the president because of her analyzing his personality on TV .

Targeting female activists


Suspending 5 females of the teaching committee in nursing faculty for 3 months and turning them to investigation after their protest against a decision made by the head of the university to hire an MB dean not from its staff which is a violation of the law. Violence against female activists during the incidents of Itihadya (presidential Palace)

Targeting female activists


. Investigating the cartoonist Doaa Aladl regarding a cartoon she drew claimed to be insulting prophets in generals and especially Adam, the investigation is a clear violation of freedom of expression. The systematic attack that reached the degree of moral assassination of Dr. Amna Nossir professor of religion at the University of Al-Azhar, on the background of her confronting the attacks on women's rights in the name of religion.

Targeting female activists


The new curricula reinforces stereotype image of women and focus on her reproductive role

Veil imposed by force on students (cutting hair and beating of unveiled female children
Picture of Doria Shafiq (fought for women to vote) removed from school books

What is Ashoka doing?

Empowering our Women Fellows and our Fellows Working with Women
To help them realize their idea : Providing the three year stipend Networking opportunities with peers and donors Providing capacity-building, financial and technical support so they can expand their organizations and increase their outreach Accelerate their progress as civil society leaders : Providing regional and international visibility Positioning them as community role-models

Provide them with support on legal issues and now that the government is not allowing funding to come directly to NGOs without their authorization, we are able to invest in them.
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WOMEN SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS IN ACTION

Our Female Fellows are Empowering other Women in the Region


There is a religious discourse that restricts womens rights. Women are subjected to discrimination and treated as second class citizens due to controversial fatwas Azza Soliman works to create a new religious understanding on women issues. She leads processes to reinterpret fatwas, create new laws and influence other laws to protect women rights

The situation of female prisoners and their children is inhumane. They have no rights and there is no institution working to protect this population

Nawal Moustafa is organizing the first efforts in Egypt to change the treatment of female prisoners as well as their young children living within the prison. She identified a special group of female prisoners whom she calls poverty prisoners.
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Amani El Tunsi
Banat we Bas radio and platform

Ghadeer Ahmed Mohamed


Revolution of Egyptian Girls Movement

Only girls a platform for young


women to speak out against all discrimination media venues

20 yr old Ghadeer from rural Egypt challenged family removed veil and started fighting organized harassment in underground thru law and social media

Ashoka Fellows in Action


Reda
Empowering Women and vulnerable groups against sex crimes and HIV

Fidaa Abu Turky


Errada local business incubator for poor women

Our Female Fellows are Improving Health in the Region


People with disabilities in the Middle East are isolated from society, while women with disabilities are even more ostracized. Ola Abu Al Ghaib founded the first organization in the Arab world that solely targets physically disabled women. Her organization is advocating for legal changes and providing these women with crucial services.

Healthcare in the Middle East is generally of deplorable quality. Governments invest little in the healthcare system, leading to poor sanitation and lack of competent of staff

Magda Iskander trains young uneducated women to be home healthcare providers. In doing so, she is both meeting the needs of the homebound and creating jobs for women who lack other employment opportunities.
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Our Female Fellows are Helping the Regions Most Marginalized People
Although ignored, sex workers are abundant and active in Egypt. Their social marginalization makes them vulnerable to diseases and violence. Reda Shokry is fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS among young impoverished women who turn to prostitution. She is also teaching them about their legal rights.

Women in rural Jordan and subjected to oppression and poverty. They are not allowed to control their resources and land

Zeinab organized the Arab regions first farmers union for poor marginalized women in Jordan. Through the union she has eased the limitations faced by marginalized women and provide them with access to economic and social opportunities

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What support do we all need?

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