ASMAA FATHI

Cairo- Women’s rights defenders make great efforts to combat violence against women in Egypt. Abeer Hamdy, lawyer and women’s rights activist, believes that feminist organizations played an important role in submitting the draft uniform law for combating violence against women to the Egyptian Parliament.

‘The requirements of the CEDAW are not fulfilled’

Abeer Hamdy pointed to the importance of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and said, “The convention is the only comprehensive and internationally binding instrument to eliminate discrimination against women.” Abeer Hamdy emphasized that the countries that have signed the convention did not fulfill the requirements of the convention. “Despite the convention, women are subjected to many rights violations and all forms of violence.”

Speaking about the efforts of feminist organizations for combating violence against women and to amend the Personal Status Law, she said, “We expect to reap the fruits of these efforts this year. Last year, feminist organizations achieved significant gains and successes by submitting the draft uniform law for combating violence against women. The current laws contain issues regarding women's freedom. Women demand the complete amendments of laws, not a patch. Women’s role cannot be ignored anymore; if the number of women had not increased in the Parliament, feminist organizations would not have been able to submit the draft uniform law to the parliament.”

‘Women have shaken the throne of the patriarchal mindset’

Despite the gains of the feminist organizations, Abeer Hamdy thinks that there is not strong influence or development regarding the laws in society. “I can say that women have shaken the throne of the patriarchal mindset. Women report violence against them more than previous years. Now, they speak out against sexual abuse.”

 Lamia Farouk Muhammad told NuJINHA that feminist organizations carried out many activities for the amendments of the Personal Status Law last year. “Feminist organizations made great efforts to discuss the draft uniform law for combating violence against women. I think that many organizations in the country did their best to ensure a fair legislature.”