The National Council for Women (NCW), led by Justice Amal Ammar, received a high-level delegation from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) this week to explore avenues of collaboration on gender equality, justice reform, and inclusive governance.
The visiting delegation included Nicole Drew, Policy Analyst at the OECD; Marwa Salah, Justice Expert; Kuala Yasuma, Governance and Child Rights Specialist; and Youssef Ashmawy, Governance Expert. Also present was Shereen Maher, National Program Coordinator for the NCW’s Girls’ Empowerment Initiative.
Advancing Egypt’s 2030 Strategy for Women
During the meeting, Justice Amal Ammar presented the key pillars of Egypt’s National Strategy for the Empowerment of Women 2030, launched under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The strategy serves as a national framework for advancing women’s participation in leadership roles, public service, and the judiciary.
The discussion also highlighted NCW’s ongoing efforts to combat gender-based violence, early marriage, and female genital mutilation (FGM), in addition to national campaigns aimed at changing social norms and improving legal protections for women and girls.
Local Engagement and Legal Support Services
Ammar underscored the role of NCW’s regional offices, which operate Women’s Complaints Offices across Egypt. These offices provide legal assistance, psychological support, and public education programs designed to raise awareness of women’s rights and the services available to them.
Emphasis on the Care Economy
The meeting also addressed the growing importance of the care economy in supporting women’s economic participation. Discussions touched on the value of expanding childcare facilities and care-related services, which play a key role in enabling women to enter and remain in the workforce.
The NCW emphasized its commitment to ongoing cooperation with national institutions and international organizations to ensure the integration of gender perspectives in all development sectors.
The two sides discussed potential areas for collaboration within existing OECD frameworks and reaffirmed the importance of exchanging expertise to support Egypt’s national goals on gender equality and institutional resilience.
