The ECWR Calls for Real Representation of Women in the Democratic Transition and Decision Making Process

(Cairo, July, 7, 2013) 30th June revolution came as a step forward towards correcting the democratic path of the 25th January revolution through transferring power to a civilian rule. This time Egyptian women emerged in an unprecedented way to defend their rights that were directly targeted by the ousted President and his group through attempting to undermine the women’s gains particularly the personal status law such as lowering the age of marriage and the right to divorce, in addition to promoting violence against women through justifying female genital mutilation and canceling its criminal law.

There has been many threats, violence and crimes against humanity witnessed all around the fields of Egypt; organized extremist groups attacked activists and no action towards any investigation was taken.

On the political level, women were excluded from the Constitution founding committee (7 women in total of 100 members). As a result, the new Egyptian constitution had only one article that discussed the rights of motherhood and children as if the only role for women in this society is to be a mother and her utmost role is to be a housewife then work came as a luxurious right that women are not entitled to. It also has been denied a fair representation of women in the electoral law.

This has contributed to lowering the status of women during the last year, under the rule of the Freedom and Justice Party. As a result, Egypt was ranked first at the level of decline in the countries regarding the status of women’s political participation, reaching ranking 126 of 2012, as well as ranking 95 among 125 countries in terms of women’s access to ministerial positions due to the only 10% comic representation in the ministry.

It also recorded a decline in economic opportunities for women compared to previous years’ reports as it ranked 80 among 128 countries and 124 among 132 countries in terms of women economic participation. As for the ratio of women to men in the labor force Egypt came in ranked 130 out of 134 countries where the percentage of unemployment among women four times more men and in women’s access to senior government positions and managers Egypt’s position fell to ranked 99 of 113 countries.

Thus the ECWR demands the following:
Women should be part of the political road map and represent at least one-third in all the elected councils and committees that will amend the constitution.
Woman should be part of the expected formation of the Ministry of competencies as there are many qualified women in several ministries and representation should not be less than one-third.