6 TV Series Discuss Women’s Issues, Rights in Ramadan

A few days separate us from the launch of the dramatic marathon in the blessed month of Ramadan sponsored by the United Company for Media Services, which decided to present 16 diverse series between national, dramatic, historical, and comic, discussing the most pressing issues.

First off, famous actress Mona Zaki discusses the guardianship law through the events of her latest series “Under Guardianship”, airing next Ramadan, where she faces many difficulties following her husband’s death.

The series was written by Khaled and Sherine Diab, directed by Muhammad Shaker Khudair, and produced by Media Hub Saadi – Jawhar, starring Mona Zaki, Diab, Noha Abdeen, Ahmed Khaled Saleh, Rushdi Al-Shamy, Ali Al-Tayeb, Maha Nassar, Khaled Kamal, Tharaa Jbeil, Muhammad Abdel-Azim, and Ahmed Abdel-Hamid, among a team of artists.

Secondly, superstar Nelly Karim continues to raise women’s issues as usual, this time through the series “Rare Currency”. She sheds light on the struggles that the upper Egyptian woman is exposed to with her husband’s family after his death, as Nelly Karim embodies the role of Nadira, an upper Egyptian woman, who fiercely struggles with her late husband’s family after his death, and refuses to surrender to deprivation of her inheritance. The series highlights her fight to obtain her rights.

The series was written by Medhat Al-Adl, directed by Mando Al-Adl, produced by Al-Adl Group, and produced by Jamal Al-Adl, starring Nelly Karim, Jamal Suleiman, Jumana Murad, Ahmed Eid, Kamal Abu Rayya, Farida Saif Al-Nasr, Nada Musa, Muhammad Lotfi, Ali Al-Tayeb, Maryam Al-Khasht, Noha Saleh, Mohamed Fahim, Ramzy El Adl, and Hisham Ashour, in addition to many young artists.

On the other hand, Yasmine Abdel Aziz stars in a new series, “Darb Nar”, which underlines the good-natured Egyptian girl’s struggles. The megastar portrays a struggling girl from Shubra who faces many problems until she meets a young man from Upper Egypt, embodied by Ahmed Al-Awadi, as he leaves Upper Egypt and comes to Cairo. A complicated love story sparkles between the two lead characters in a romantic drama full of adventures.

The series “Darb Nar” was written by Nasser Abdel Rahman, directed by Mostafa Fekry, produced by Synergy Company, and scheduled to be shown next Ramadan, starring Yasmine Abdel Aziz and Ahmed Al-Awadi, Majid Al-Masry, Suhair Al-Morshedy, Donia Al-Masry, Hoda Al-Etribi, Israa Rakha, Ahmed Ghazi, Iman Al-Sayed, Badria Tolba, Ahmed Abdullah, Tayseer Abdel Aziz, Tamer Magdy, among a group of creatives.

Also, Reham Hajjaj embodies the title character in the series “Jamila”, which discusses many social and family issues, and simultaneously sheds light on working women’s coordination between career and marital life.

The series was written by Ayman Salama, directed by Sameh Abdel Aziz, and produced by Al Adl Group led by producer Jamal Al Adl, starring Reham Hajjaj, Abeer Sabry, Sawsan Badr, Yousra El Lawzy, Abeer Sabry, Ahmed Wafik, Hany Adel, Hisham Ismail, Nabil Issa, Yasser Ali Maher, Abeer Mounir, Rahma Hassan, Reem Sami, Rehab Hussein, and the work deals with many social issues and conflicts that we are witnessing around us in society.

Whereas prolific actor Yasser Jalal discusses several important social issues within the events of the 15-episode series “A legitimate relationship”. His series deals with the disadvantages of the second marriage, whatever it may be, and its negative impact on family and children. It also portrays violence against women and how it destroys marital relationships.

The series stars Yasser Jalal, Mai Omar, Dalia Mostafa, Murad Makram, Basant Shawky, Mimi Gamal, and many other artists, written by Samah Al-Hariri, directed by Khaled Marei, and co-produced by “Forever Drama – Maha Selim” and “media Hub – Saadi Goha”. Yasser Jalal plays a businessman who is married to Mai Omar,

And finally, the multi-talented Ruby faces many problems and difficulties through the events of “The Mayor”, where she plays the role of an educated girl forced to become the mayor to protect her family’s inheritance. She goes through a lot of trouble in this new responsibility that hugely contradicts her previous life.

The series stars Ruby, Ahmed Rizk, Mahmoud Abdel Moghni, Wafaa Amer, Basma, Samiha Ayoub, Lotfi Labib, Salah Abdullah and Ahmed Bedir, Dina, Mohamed Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, Edward, Mahmoud Hafez, Ihab Fahmy, and Ahmed Bedir, Karim Abdel-Khalek, Mohamed El-Sawy, Nahla Salama, Hossam Dagher, and Sola Omar, written by Ibrahim Issa and directed by Adel Adib, and produced by Raymond Makar and Mohamed Mahmoud Abdel Aziz.

Saad El-Din El-Hilali: Gender Equality is a Right

Dr. Saad El-Din El-Hilali, a professor of comparative jurisprudence at Al-Azhar University, pointed out that when a man leaves his home, he is treated according to his humanity, unlike a woman who receives a different treatment. This happens daily in a country whose people are supposed to have religion number one.

El-Hilali indicated, during the symposium on “Women’s Role in Building Cultural and Moral Awareness” organized by the NCW at the Book Fair, that despite the establishment of civic education in 1908 when the Egyptian University was founded, girls didn’t enroll in the university until 20 years later, specifically in 1928.

He added that in his visits to foreign countries, he found that women receive equal treatment, and their humanity is not insulted. He stressed that equality is a right for women that people seem to ignore and is even rejected by multiple Islamic preachers.

He went on to mention the transformative role of women, as it was a woman who declared national unity in the 1919 revolution besides being one of the leaders of the national revolution.

Moreover, Al-Hilali stressed that the woman’s right to obtain part of her husband’s wealth is a fair request and does not need a fatwa, as women share their husbands in managing their life and household, so it’s unfair to deny her what she helped him achieve.

While in the case of divorce, it is a civil matter that takes place by mutual consent, and there are opinions of the Maliki and Hanbali ideologies that permit a woman to share her husband’s wealth with mutual consent between the two parties. The professor also stressed that we should put an end to terms like guardianship

Dr. Saad Al-Din Al-Hilali pointed out that laws trump fatwas, because fatwas tolerate wrong and right, while laws are the decisive factor and definitive reference that people trust. As for the Sharia, it is God’s direct orders that are agreed upon by all. Therefore, the government should enforce more laws that protect and liberate women against discrimination in all scopes.

UN official meets Taliban deputy premier to discuss women NGO ban

UN official meets Taliban deputy premier to discuss women NGO ban

According to Ahram Online, A senior U.N. official in Afghanistan met yesterday the deputy prime minister of the Taliban-led government to discuss a ban on women working for non-governmental groups that Afghan authorities have announced in a series of measures rolling back women’s rights.

The Taliban government’s decision to prohibit women from working for non-governmental organizations has caused major international aid organizations to suspend operations in the country. The ban has raised concerns that people will be deprived of food, education, healthcare, and other critical services, even though more than half of Afghanistan’s population requires immediate humanitarian assistance.

Aid agencies have warned the ban will have catastrophic consequences and “hundreds and thousands” of Afghans will die because of the Taliban decision.

The deputy head of the U.N. Mission in Afghanistan, Potzel Markus, met Maulvi Abdul Salam Hanafi in the capital Kabul to discuss the ban, as well as other measures including barring women from universities.

“By prohibiting women from working in non-governmental organizations and denying girls and women access to education and training, millions of Afghans suffer and vital aid is not delivered to Afghan men, women, and children,” the UN mission said.

Potzel is the latest U.N. official to meet the Taliban’s leadership amid mounting international concern over the curtailing of women’s freedoms in Afghanistan.

Last Monday, the acting head of the U.N. mission Ramiz Alakbarov met Economy Minister Qari Din Mohammed Hanif.

Hanif issued the NGO ban on December 24, allegedly because women were not correctly wearing the Islamic headscarf or hijab. He stated that any organisation found to violate the order will have its licence revoked.

Aid agencies have been providing essential services and support in the face of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

The Taliban takeover in 2021, as U.S. and NATO forces were in the final weeks of their pullout after 20 years of war, sent Afghanistan’s economy into a tailspin and transformed the country, driving millions into poverty and hunger. Foreign aid stopped almost overnight.

Sanctions against the Taliban rulers, such as a halt in bank transfers and the freezing of billions of dollars in Afghan foreign assets, have already limited access to global institutions. Before the Taliban takeover, aid funds aided the country’s aid-dependent economy.

U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths is due to visit Afghanistan to discuss the ban.

Potzel’s meeting with Hanafi came as a United Nations survey revealed that a third of NGOs led by women in Afghanistan have been forced to halt 70 per cent of their operations due to the ban, and another third have ceased all operations entirely.

The U.N. Women’s Department said 86 per cent of the 151 organizations surveyed have either stopped or are functioning partially.

It also said the lack of women in the distribution of aid has had a significant impact on the Afghan population.

Nivine El-Kabbag: Egypt Aims to Combat Violence Against Women

Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity, Nivine El-Kabbag, attended a meeting held in “Asmarat”, a residential compound constructed by the government and serves as the relocation of slum dwellers in different areas in Cairo.

In the meeting, the Minister reviewed the results of a 16-day campaign with the slogan “Grab the tip of the thread”, which was initiated by her ministry to fight violence against girls and women. She stated that the goal of the campaign is to economically empower women and eliminate all forms of violence against them.

“Violence has to be stopped and women have to be empowered,” she shared during her speech. She proceeded to ensure the attendees that the ministry will spare no effort to empower women and save them from poverty, by providing social and economic opportunities.

El-Kabbag highlighted the ministry’s efforts to support the unity and integration of the Egyptian family. She added that the state authorities are working together on diminishing discrimination and violence against Egyptian women, in addition to including them in the decision-making process.

Several residents of the compound were among the participants, alongside the United Nations Development Program Resident Representative, Alessandro Fracassetti, and Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt, Marco Migliorelli.

 The children of the compound’s residents displayed their drawings and artwork at the fair. This came after they attended drawing workshops at the center within the framework of the Awareness for Community Development Program, which was implemented in collaboration with artist Azza Fakhry.

El-Kabbag toured the Reception and Rehabilitation Centre in the compound and one of the art fairs held in it. The minister praised the participation of national and international bodies in the 16-day campaign to fight violence against women.

Five gains for women in the private sector in the new labor law

The new labor law established new gains for working women in the private sector, as it presents practical solutions to the problems that working women used to face. The articles of the new labor law offer many advantages for women working in the private sector, as the articles of the law contain guarantees of women’s rights in the event of pregnancy and the breastfeeding period.

The law was keen to preserve and protect women’s rights in all possible ways by granting them abundant facilities, especially for pregnant women.

Daily working hours

The daily working hours of a pregnant woman shall be reduced by at least one hour as of the sixth month of pregnancy, and she shall not be required to work overtime during the period of pregnancy until the end of six months from the date of delivery.

Maternity leave

The worker has the right to maternity leave for a period of four months instead of three, and this leave is paid and includes the period preceding and following delivery, provided that the period of this leave after delivery is not less than forty-five days, according to Article 52 of the Civil Service Law.

Provided that she submits a medical certificate indicating the date on which childbirth is likely to occur, and a working woman may not be employed within the 45 days following childbirth. She cannot obtain maternity leave more than two times only throughout her service period.

The employer may not dismiss a working woman during maternity leave, but there is one case in which he can deprive her of compensation for his wages, unless it is proven that she was working in another job during maternity leave, without prejudice to disciplinary accountability, according to Article 92 of the new labor law.

Breast-feeding

Article (52) stipulates that the female worker who breastfeeds her child during the two years following the delivery date, in addition to the prescribed rest period, shall have the right to the other two periods for breastfeeding, each of which shall not be less than half an hour, and she shall have the right to combine these two periods, and the two periods shall be calculated from her working hours without any salary reduction.

Nursery school

Article 96 of Labor Law No. 12 stipulates that an employer who employs 100 or more female workers in one place must establish a proper nursery for the children of female workers under the terms and conditions determined by a decision of the competent minister.

The article obligates establishments that employ less than 100 female workers in one place, and that they participate in the implementation of the commitment stipulated in the previous paragraph, according to the conditions and conditions that are determined by a decision of the competent minister.

Child care leave

According to Article 72 of the Child Law, a working mother has the right to obtain leave to care for her child. The article states that the number of leaves a mother is allowed is up to three times for all working mothers, and the duration of each time is two years, so the working mother gets six years throughout her period of service to care for the child, and she isn’t required to have several children to be able to obtain multiple child care leaves.

The Labor Law separated the female workers in the formal sector and the private sector in terms of the minimum number of employees in the establishment. In the formal sector, a minimum number of employees is not required, but in the private sector, the number of employees must be at least fifty for the employee to be entitled to childcare leave.

The Gender Equality Unit protects women’s rights in the workplace

The “Gender Equality Unit” affiliated with the Ministry of Manpower succeeded in establishing the principle of equal opportunities and spreading awareness regarding women’s rights and duties in their field of work, in line with the policies of the Egyptian state that takes serious steps to support women in all fields, keen to continue to involve women in Work, production, and decision-making.

The Ministry of Manpower, through the Gender Equality Unit, continues its role in serving women’s issues, especially in the field of work.

The unit was initially established by Ministerial Resolution No. (1) of 2019; To create a stimulating work environment that supports gender equality in the field of work and economic life, achieving equality and eliminating all forms of discrimination against women.

The unit aims at empowering women economically, promoting the principle of equal opportunities in training, employment and promotion, as well as increasing women’s participation in labor union work, and increasing women’s employment rates.

Additionally, it targets a number of groups, most specifically working women or those wishing to join the labor market, especially breadwinners or women with disabilities, as well as business owners and workers’ organizations.

Furthermore, it seeks to establish gender equality units within all establishments in the private sector, and the first model of the unit has already been established in a factory in Ismailia Governorate.

The unit also contributed to presenting notes and a clear vision aligning with the focus of ministerial decisions and serving its objectives, including:

1- Ministerial Resolution No. 43 of 2021 regarding determining the jobs in which women may not be employed in accordance with international labor standards, which gave women the right to join any job or profession without regard to their social gender and taking into account the principles of equal opportunities, gender equality and non-discrimination at work.

2- Ministerial Resolution No. 44 of 2021 regulating the employment of women at night, which stipulates that women may, at their request, work during night shifts in any establishment of any kind, provided that the necessary measures are taken to protect their health and help them maintain their family responsibilities.

The central unit and sub-units carry out many activities, including the implementation of workshops and awareness seminars at the governorate level.

It aims to launch the “She Can” initiative in the food and textile industries sectors at the governorate level, through which a set of training programs will be implemented for all employees of the targeted companies pertaining to women, as well as implementing other programs for workers in human resources departments on equality and non-discrimination.

The unit developed a plan to provide female street vendors in Alexandria with 20 to 25 mobile carts annually for free, within the framework of supporting the unorganized sector.

The activities of the unit are integrated through the sub-units in the governorates, as 27 sub-units have been established as a formation parallel to the central unit, which implements services and activities within the framework of the plans set to achieve the goals.

The Ministry of Manpower publishes a report on gender equality and protection of women’s rights at work.

The Ministry of Manpower publishes a report on gender equality and protection of women’s rights at work.

The Ministry of Manpower’s Media Centre published a report on “The Gender Equality Unit,” intending to publicize the Unit’s history and role in supporting gender equality issues and the protection of women in the workplace, following Egyptian State policies that regard women as half of society and gave birth to the other half.

According to the issued report, the Egyptian State, which is taking serious steps to support women in all fields, establish the principle of equal opportunities and raise awareness regarding women’s rights, duties and employment, is keen to continue to involve women in work and production and decision-making.

The Gender Equality Unit of the Ministry of Manpower was launched with the International Labour Organization “National Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality in Employment”, which aims to create a possible, supportive and safe framework for both women and men in employment by promoting women’s participation in the workforce and leadership positions and create a safe working environment free from violence or discrimination.

Recommendations on the protection of women human rights defenders at risk in migration contexts

Recommendations on the protection of women human rights defenders at risk in migration contexts

These recommendations are the first of their kind and underline the critical role migrant women human rights defenders play in securing the rights of people on the move.

Migrant women human rights defenders include women, girls, and gender-diverse persons of all ages who promote and protect the human rights of people on the move, whether they are migrants themselves or not, regardless of their migration status, and irrespective of whether they self-identify as a woman human rights defender.

These recommendations are a call to action to all stakeholders to recognize and address the risks facing migrant women human rights defenders and put in place measures to promote and protect human rights unhindered so that migrants in all their diversity can live, work, and move safely and with dignity.

Kamla Abou Zekry receives the “Faten Hamama Award of Excellence” at the 44th CIFF

Egyptian filmmaker and television director, Kamla Abou Zekry, has successfully paved the road for women’s empowerment through her work on television and cinema. Her work served as a platform to vocalize the hardships and inconveniences that Egyptian women face on daily basis.

The 4 times director’s projects frequently resemble diversity and women empowerment, constantly calling for social change.

As an advocate for women’s rights, she’s always keen on displaying the unfiltered reality of Egyptian women, showcasing gender-based abuse and mental illness, among other equally important issues. Her stories of struggling women are always well-received and praised by the public.

Born into an artistic family, she had the opportunity to work with many talented directors in the industry. She worked as a co-director on movies like Nader Galal’s “Bellya w Dmagho El Alya” and “Hello America,” among other great projects.

On top of that, she directed he first short film “Qatr El Saa’a El Sadesa” in 1999, before becoming the idolized director of popular shows like “Bent esmaha Zat, 2013,” “Segn El Nessa, 2014,” and most recently “Betlou’ El Rouh, 2022.”

During the 44th run of the Cairo International Film Festival, Kamla was granted the “Faten Hamama Award of Excellence” to commemorate outstanding efforts.

Kamla Abou Zekry considerably reshaped the industry, through her amazing projects. Her influential films were screened in both local, and international film festivals, including “Cairo International Film Festival,” “Dubai International Film Festival,” the “Venice Film Festival,” and “Cannes Film Festival.”