Egypt underscored its progress in advancing women’s access to justice and economic empowerment during the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York.
As part of the participation of the National Council for Women (Egypt) in the international gathering, Marian Kaldas, council member and member of the Egyptian House of Representatives, took part in a high-level side event organized by Turkey titled “Leveraging Legal Frameworks and Digital Technologies to Enhance Access to Justice for Women and Girls, Particularly in Protection from Violence.”
The session brought together ministers, policymakers, and international representatives to discuss the role of law and technology in protecting women’s rights and improving justice systems worldwide.
Technology and Law as Pillars of Modern Justice
During her remarks, Kaldas emphasized that the future of justice depends on legal systems’ ability to keep pace with technological developments, noting that digital transformation can significantly expand women’s access to justice and strengthen their participation in society.
She explained that justice should not be limited to legislation or courtrooms, but rather seen as a comprehensive ecosystem of opportunities and mechanisms that ensures inclusivity and accessibility for women as citizens, professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders.
Egypt’s Legal and Institutional Reforms
Qaldas highlighted Egypt’s ongoing efforts to integrate technological innovation within its legal framework to remove barriers and promote equal opportunities for women.
She pointed to the landmark decision by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, President of Egypt, to declare 2017 the “Year of Egyptian Women.” The initiative marked a turning point in the country’s approach to gender equality, signaling that women’s empowerment is a national priority rather than merely a social objective.
The declaration was followed by constitutional amendments reinforcing principles of equality and non-discrimination, while guaranteeing protections for women in economic, political, and judicial spheres.
Economic Empowerment as a Path to Justice
According to Kaldas, economic empowerment is a central pillar of achieving justice, as financial independence enables women to claim their rights and participate more actively in society.
She cited several legislative reforms supporting women’s economic participation, including investment laws that promote equal opportunities in business environments, microfinance regulations that expand access to financial services, and fintech legislation designed to strengthen digital financial inclusion.
Labor legislation in Egypt also includes key protections such as flexible working arrangements, equal pay provisions, maternity protections, and criminalization of workplace harassment, ensuring safer and more sustainable participation for women in the workforce.
Digital Tools Expanding Access to Justice
Qaldas noted that digital transformation is already reshaping how justice is delivered in Egypt. Electronic complaint systems within the Public Prosecution of Egypt and digital integration between judicial institutions allow victims to report crimes securely, confidentially, and efficiently.
The National Council for Women also supports these mechanisms through hotlines, WhatsApp communication services, and social media reporting channels, which connect victims directly with legal advisers and relevant authorities.
In addition, awareness campaigns conducted in cooperation with platforms such as Instagram and Facebook aim to educate women about cybercrime and online harassment, while promoting digital safety and prevention strategies.
Strengthening Judicial Cooperation and Digital Integration
Qaldas also highlighted institutional cooperation between Egypt’s judicial bodies, including a protocol linking the Public Prosecution of Egypt, the Court of Cassation of Egypt, and the Ministry of Justice (Egypt) to enhance digital integration and accelerate litigation procedures.
Supporting legislation such as cybersecurity regulations and the Personal Data Protection Law (Egypt) ensures that digital justice systems operate responsibly while safeguarding privacy and ethical standards.
Justice City and Future Reforms
Looking ahead, Kaldas pointed to the upcoming Justice City project in the New Administrative Capital, expected to begin operations in June 2026. The integrated judicial complex will house major legal institutions including the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt, the Court of Cassation of Egypt, and the State Council of Egypt within a unified digital infrastructure designed to enhance efficiency and transparency.
She also referenced the development of electronic systems within family courts that help calculate and distribute inheritance shares among heirs, streamlining procedures and improving transparency.
Growing Representation of Women in Egypt’s Judiciary
In her concluding remarks, Kaldas stressed that modernizing justice systems must also involve increasing women’s participation within judicial institutions.
She cited recent indicators reflecting growing representation, including 186 female judges in ordinary courts, 187 female judges in the State Council, and 176 women serving within the Public Prosecution, including 165 assistant prosecutors. Women also represent nearly 43% of members of the Administrative Prosecution Authority, with several holding senior leadership roles.
“The future of justice depends on combining modern legislation, technology, innovation, and women’s participation,” Kaldas said, adding that such integration will help build a justice system that is more efficient, transparent, and inclusive.
