Egypt achieved a score of 50.7 out of 100 points in the 2021 Regional Index on VAWG. Egypt ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) but still maintains reservations to articles 2, 16, and 29. The Egypt’s Constitution is considered progressive as it explicitly prohibits discrimination against women, strives to allow them to reach leadership positions, and ensures no less than a 25% women quota in local councils and parliament.
The National Council for Women (NCW) has worked on issuing the National Strategy to Combat Violence against Women (2015-2020) that covers four main topics: prevention, protection, intervention, and prosecution. NCW also organises the national awareness-raising campaigns on combating VAWG. There is a political will to support women’s full citizenship that was reflected by declaring 2017 the Year of the Egyptian Woman, which had a clear positive impact on public opinion and the legislative development process.
Specialised services are provided to women victims of VAWG in 9 State-run Safe Houses. There are mechanisms of cooperation for addressing VAWG. An executive committee has been formed between NCW and the heads of the departments and units concerned with women’s rights in various ministries including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health and Population, Ministry of Social Solidarity, the National Council on Disability, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood.
For more information, please download Egypt National Report