VAW Protection Policies: Between Fragmented Legislative Reforms and Services Requiring Efficient Access, Inclusion, and Sustainability.

Opening Statement

16 Days of Activism Towards Violence Against Women

VAW Protection Policies: Between Fragmented Legislative Reforms, And Services Requiring Efficient Access, Inclusion, and Sustainability.

This year, the New Woman Foundation sheds the light on VAW protection policies. We raise questions concerning the efficiency of the latest fragmented reforms of the penal law and criminal procedures, and other ministerial decisions. We highlight the need for a uniform law for Violence against women, especially with the personal status law deprioritized on the legislative agenda.

On one hand, we acknowledge the increased provision of services; on the other hand, we recognize the lack of efficient access as well as the lack of sufficiency and sustainability. Eliminating VAW in Egypt is still a long journey that requires accumulated and relentless efforts from all parties to develop policies and establish sufficient, inclusive, and sustainable services.

This year, NWF’s 16 Days of Activism include a package of various events. We start a conversation around legislation, effectiveness of social, health, and police services, and rehabilitation and reintegration interventions targeting VAW survivors of different ages. Moreover, we emphasize the overlooked priorities in VAW protection policies; from the uniform legislation for VAW that crosses the penal gaps and adopts soft rehabilitation and reintegration interventions for survivors, to a sufficient and extended service umbrella that is commensurate with VAW rates in the private and the public spheres.

In conclusion, we publish recommendations and share proposals regarding giving due attention to these priorities in national plans, proposals that directly contribute to achieving the indicator of the 5th SDG on gender equality in the framework of the 2030 plan. These proposals correspond to the recommendations of the CEDAW follow-up committee. We intensify our advocacy campaigns that demand ILO 190 Convention on Violence and Harassment in the Workplace to be ratified.