The National Council for Women (NCW) in Egypt welcomed a delegation of technical experts from the United Nations to review the council’s ongoing initiatives to combat female genital mutilation (FGM). This visit comes as part of continued global efforts to address gender-based violence and promote women’s rights.
During the meeting, Judge Amal Ammar, Chairperson of the NCW, greeted Jose Christodoulou, the Commissioner for Gender Equality from Cyprus. The two leaders discussed Egypt’s efforts in tackling violence against women, with a special focus on the harmful effects of cyber violence on women and girls. Judge Ammar emphasized that the rapid advancements in information and communication technology have led to new forms of violence, which undermine progress made in empowering women and girls.
Christodoulou presented an overview of Cyprus’ initiatives to support women’s rights, including the work of Cyprus’ integrated unit for combating violence against women. She commended the NCW for its dedication to women’s issues and referred to it as a “pillar of support for women” in Egypt.
The meeting also touched upon Egypt’s National Strategy for Women’s Empowerment 2030, which aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This strategy focuses on four key areas aimed at boosting gender equality in the country.
Another key topic discussed was the National Referral System, established by the NCW in 2019, which aims to provide comprehensive support for victims of violence. The council’s efforts to eliminate violence against women through various projects and campaigns, as well as the role of the Women’s Complaints Office, were also highlighted.
The two sides explored potential areas for future collaboration on various issues impacting women’s rights.
The meeting received Jihan Tawfik, Head of the NCW’s Office of the Chairperson, Sherwit Ibrahim, Director of International Agreements and Cooperation, Amal Abdel Moneim, Director of the Women’s Complaints Office, and other members of the NCW technical staff.
On a separate note, Ammar met with a technical team from UNICEF regional office for the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the UNFPA. This meeting aimed to review the council’s ongoing efforts in addressing FGM, as part of a joint international program to eradicate this practice. Attending the meeting was Dr. Marianne Qaldas, a member of the NCW. She discussed Egypt’s history of combating FGM since 2000, through increasing public awareness and enacting laws aimed at combating this crime against girls.
