The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the combined eighth to tenth periodic report of Egypt, welcoming the lifting of the state of emergency in Egypt and asking about restrictive measures facing women human rights defenders.
A Committee Expert welcomed the history of Egypt in empowering women and its lifting yesterday of the state of emergency. Another Egypt asked about the measures taken by Egypt to protect human rights defenders, including female journalists and other activists. Restrictive measures and laws faced women human rights defenders, in particular those that they faced in the context of the state of emergency, the lifting of which the Expert welcomed. She asked how Egypt intended to strengthen the inclusiveness of Egyptian civil society.
The delegation said that the state of emergency was lifted yesterday, but that even in the previous period, all necessary assurances had been taken to guarantee the fundamental rights and freedoms of all. Regarding human rights defenders, the delegation affirmed that all measures were taken to ensure the protection of these representatives. Egypt took all necessary measures to protect all victims of violence, including guaranteeing the right to a fair trial. There were no restrictions on the activities of non-governmental organizations and they were free to operate, including regionally.
Мaya Morsy, President of the National Council for Women and head of the delegation, presenting the report, said that in June 2014, a new era began, when President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi assumed the presidency, demonstrating a conscious and enlightened political will that respected and valued women. The National Human Rights Strategy was recently launched, where women were a main focus area, consistent with the objectives of the National Strategy for the Empowerment of Egyptian Women 2030. The constitutional rights of women had been translated into laws, strategies and executive programmes.
Several Experts praised the work of Committee Expert Naela Gabr of Egypt in the Committee.
The delegation of Egypt was made up of representatives of the National Council for Women, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s eightieth session is being held from 18 October to 12 November. All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. The meetings summary releases prepared on the public meetings of the Committee can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed at https://webtv.un.org/.
The Committee will next meet at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 27 October, to start its consideration of the combined seventh and eighth periodic report of Yemen (CEDAW/C/YEM/7-8).
Report
The Committee has before it the combined eighth to tenth periodic report of Egypt (CEDAW/C/EGY/8-10).
Presentation of Report
МAYA MORSY, President of the National Council for Women and head of the delegation, said she was pleased to introduce Egypt’s report after an absence of more than 10 years, during which Egypt had witnessed many political, social and economic events and developments. Women’s achievements had been subjected to a setback following a year of the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood. On 30 June 2013, the revolution had commenced, where women led and proved to be the primary and first line of defence for their rights. The 2014 constitution was issued and included more than 20 articles regulating the issues of citizenship and equality, and criminalising violence and non-discrimination. In 2016, the National Council for Women was reformed to include for the first time representation of women with disabilities, rural, and young women.
In June 2014, a new era began, when President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi assumed the presidency, demonstrating a conscious and enlightened political will that respected and valued women. The National Human Rights Strategy was recently launched, where women were a main focus area, consistent with the objectives of the National Strategy for the Empowerment of Egyptian Women 2030. A national review of the statistics was also conducted, to set priorities and produce accurate data. The constitutional rights of women had been translated into laws, strategies and executive programmes. A constitutional quota guaranteed the presence of 25 per cent of women in Parliament, 25 per cent in local councils, 10 per cent in the Senate, as well as tangible representation in the boards of directors of financial companies and the banking sector. At the same time, several campaigns were launched to empower women and protect them from all forms of violence and crimes, by making them aware of their rights and the services provided by the Government to them.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a programme had been adopted to raise awareness of the repercussions of the pandemic, and the development of referral systems and hotlines to provide economic and psychological support in addition to electronic awareness campaigns. Moreover, campaigns to combat cybercrime were launched in partnership with Facebook and Instagram platforms. The National Coordinating Committee for Combatting and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons was established and headed by a woman. The first hosting shelter for victims of human trafficking was established, lines were allocated to report these crimes, and a presidential campaign was launched to raise awareness on the dangers of illegal immigration. A significant study on the issues related to the situation of domestic workers, as well as a draft contract to improve the conditions of female workers in this sector was also presented.
The complaints office of the National Council for Women included a network of legal supporters, who provided legal, psychological and social support services and referrals to the concerned authorities. Reporting lines were also opened to assist victims of violence in all its forms. Training was organised for all public officials who provided services to women subjected to violence. The First National Committee to eradicate of Female Genital Mutilation was formed in May 2019. The Committee had succeeded, with the cooperation of all partners, in achieving 81 million awareness contacts and outreach until September 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, intensive awareness and media campaigns were organised to raise awareness of the dangers of this crime, while legislative amendments were issued and activated to increase the punishment to prevent committing the crime.
The percentage of women’s representation in the Egyptian public and political life had increased. Awareness raising programmes had been launched for women on the importance of participating in elections, the right to vote, and training and mentoring programmes, as well as the issuance of national identity cards for women. The National Training Academy was established, also led by a woman, aimed to achieve human development requirements for youth in all sectors of the State and to improve their capabilities and skills. The percentage of women graduated of public and private universities, the rate of girls’ enrolment in pre-university education in the rural areas, as well as the retake of refugee and migrant students had also increased. The numbers of women’s unemployment rate had decreased.
Egypt had amended a number of relative pieces of legislation to promote women’s rights in the country concerning persons with disabilities. Periodic visits to the women’s prison were organised, providing awareness raising meetings about health care, basic services such as literacy classes, and the possibility of female prisoners to complete their studies. Egypt placed the agenda of women, security and peace at the heart and centre of its international and regional efforts to achieve peace, in light of the strong political will and sincere commitment to empowering women and girls. With regard to climate and environmental change, environmental camps had been set up, aimed at training women and encouraging them to engage in environmentally friendly industries such as waste recycling projects, organic farming, biogas production and alternative energy.
Questions by Committee Experts
TAMADER AL-RAMMAH, Committee Expert, noted the history of Egypt in empowering women and the ongoing progress of the State party in launching numerous initiatives in the legislative and public life to ensure the protection of women’s rights. She welcomed the lifting of Egypt’s reservation to article 9, paragraph 2 of the Convention and the lifting yesterday of the state of emergency.
NICOLE AMELINE, Committee Member, encouraged Egypt to lift the reservations on the Convention, as well as adopt the Optional Protocol. The Committee had great expectations for the Women’s Security and Peace Council. With regard to legislative work, Ms. Ameline asked about the measures taken by Egypt to protect human rights defenders, including female journalists and other activists. Restrictive measures and laws faced women’s human rights defenders, in particular those that they faced in the context of the state of emergency, the lifting of which the Expert welcomed. She asked how Egypt intended to strengthen the inclusiveness of Egyptian civil society.
Ms. Ameline noted that the Constitution did not directly evoke indirect discrimination, adding that intersectional discrimination particularly affected women. She asked how Egypt planned to ensure that intersectional discrimination did not occur, including when it concerned vulnerable people.
Ms. Ameline asked about the measures and policies for economic recovery applied following the COVID-19 pandemic. As for Parliament, it appeared there were no quotas for women. Did Egypt attempt to cooperate not only on the ministerial level, but also on the ground, with civil society organizations? Ms. Ameline noted the demographic problem in Egypt, asking about problems undertaken to improve the situation.
HIROKO AKIZUKI, Committee Member, asked about the timeframe to reach the 30 per cent quota of women in politics. She also asked for measures in other areas where women were underrepresented.
Replies by the Delegation
The delegation recalled that the state of emergency was lifted yesterday, but that even in the previous period, all necessary assurances had been taken to guarantee the fundamental rights and freedoms of all. Egypt’s reservations concerning articles 2 and 16 of the Convention were related to the Islamic Sharia or law and must be read in the light of the explanations presented by Egypt when it made these reservations. In any case, Egypt regularly undertook periodic reviews of its position on reservations.
Regarding human rights defenders, the delegation affirmed that all measures were taken to ensure the protection of these representatives. Egypt took all necessary measures to protect all victims of violence, including guaranteeing the right to a fair trial. The Ministry of Justice had strengthened the support of women and persons with disabilities. A centre was established to protect women and people who suffered domestic violence. Training was provided to persons dealing with victims of domestic violence and new measures were adopted. An awareness-raising campaign was launched to inform the society about domestic violence and how perpetrators were punished. The results of this campaign were followed closely.
The National Council for Women cooperated with religious leaders. Regarding COVID-19, there was a draft policy prepared at the beginning of the pandemic that took into account the human component and social affairs for women and women with disabilities, education, violence, and others. It also took account of the Covenant on Equal Opportunities. A few surveys were carried out between the first and the second wave, as well as the third wave on the effects on Egyptian families and the economy. The surveys took into account the needs of women. Regarding coordination, there were 27 departments within the Council, which together with civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations were invited to participate in the civil society forum. The delegation affirmed Egypt’s determination to reach the 30 per cent quota for women representation in politics. Several initiatives had been undertaken in sectors to improve awareness of health matters such as COVID, female genital mutilation and child marriage. Women were represented in different judicial bodies as a clear demonstration of the political will to implement the provisions of the Convection.
Questions by the Committee Experts
FRANCELINE TOE BOUDA, Committee Member, noted the advances made on gender-based violence in Egypt. She noted that the Public Prosecutor had taken measures to arrest women for having made online publications because they were women. Also, peaceful demonstrators had been killed without any follow-up, trial or investigations to find those responsible. Sometimes, women were required to be accompanied in their travels by men. What was the State party doing to put an end to these serious violations of women’s rights? What was Egypt doing to put an end to early marriages, violence against women and female genital mutilation that affected the lives of so many women?
NAHLA HAIDAR, Acting Committee Chair, noted the challenges faced by migrant women in Egypt, often becoming victims of human trafficking. According to the statistics provided, it was not possible to see how many of them were women, so further desegregated data was needed. Would the State party consider the detention of pregnant women?
The Committee asked about the lack of shelters, as well as lack of resources to support these women. The delegation was asked for the current definitions of rape in Egyptian law.
Replies by the Delegation
The delegation informed about a draft bill in Parliament to ban child marriages. Currently there were already some provisions which would prevent these marriages. Regarding enforced disappearances, the term did not exist in legislation. There was a definition of kidnapping and other provisions, which would ensure that the necessary measures would be undertaken. In Egypt, all citizens were equal before the law. Therefore, if women were victims of violence, the Government would ensure that their rights were safeguarded. Regarding human trafficking, the issue was important for Egypt, as an increase of the number of cases was observed in the past years. There was a legal framework in Egypt, which had a methodology, acknowledging international laws which were applied in these cases.
Regulations were in place to secure fair employment contracts, including on women’s rights. Regarding polygamy, Egypt had provisions and was working on further developing them to not allow a man to marry more than once. The Ombudsman of the National Council for Women provided all forms of support to women victims of violence. The Office had 12 technical teams, specialised in different areas, including violence against women and migration, among others. It also had a voluntary legal counsel which attended hearings. Awareness raising campaigns were launched to help women in dealing with these problems. It cooperated with all relevant institutions to achieve this aim.
The delegation explained that there were clear definitions on violence and violence-related crimes in Egyptian law, but it was up to the discretion of the judge on how to proceed in the different cases. However, these provisions were revised, as new forms of violence were being discovered. The law on domestic workers was also undergoing some changes. The Government ensured that all women subject to violence were protected by ensuring that the relevant legal, psychological and social support was provided to them. There were new centres established for sheltering victims of human trafficking.
Questions by the Committee Experts