(Cairo, August 25, 2020) Within the framework of the efforts conducted by the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights (ECWR) in a number of governorates, ECWR was surprised upon learning of a procedure which prevents women under the age of 40 from accommodation in hotels, if they are alone. ECWR considers this procedure as a practice of guardianship, as well as an insult to women. This procedure is unconstitutional, and opposes all state policies towards empowering women.
ECWR has faced the prevention of a number of field coordinators from hotel reservations, who were to follow up the implementation of programs in different governorates, claiming that there are instructions to prevent any women and young women from staying in hotels without an accompanying family member. These instructions were not just directed to ECWR or its coordinators, but to all women and young women in Egypt. On social media, a number of stories were circulated, where girls shared their experiences of being prevented from staying in hotels on their own, as the hotels responded: “We apologize for your staying alone in the hotel.”
Therefore, we ask the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Khaled El Anany, about the legality of prohibiting women from staying alone in a hotel, and of the requirement of the presence of a husband, father, or brother in order for the girls to stay in a hotel.
This measure is considered as discrimination against women, an insult, and a practice of unacceptable guardianship. Moreover, this procedure is also a restriction on women’s freedom of movement and work and contrary to the constitution and the law.
As, the Article no. 62 of the Constitution stipulates: “Freedom of movement, residence and emigration is guaranteed…”
And Article no. 92 stipulates “Rights and freedoms of individual citizens may not be suspended or reduced.
No law that regulates the exercise of rights and freedoms may restrict them in such a way as infringes upon their essence and foundation. ”
Instead of looking for mechanisms to increase women’s employment and economic empowerment, especially given Egypt’s low ranking in the women’s economic empowerment index among the countries of the world, women’s work is curtailed, and unacceptable guardianship is being practiced as though a prior accusation falls on women; that they would not be able to make decisions on their own or that they would deviate to immorality.
This procedure also violates and impedes all state policies towards empowering women. In the public sphere, how could women participate in political parties and travel to perform their work, if they are not allowed to stay in hotels? And how would young women who have an election observer card from the Supreme Election Commission carry out their observational work?
In terms of the labour market: in light of the changing work conditions, and many projects that need to be followed up in a number of places, should women be forced to resign, or not be promoted, because they do not have places to stay in order to do their jobs, or should the “men of the family” devote themselves to accompanying them?
On the level of personal freedom, what happens if a woman is subjected to domestic violence, and decides to seek a safe shelter, should she remain in hostile environments because the Ministry of Tourism has decided to place guardianship over women?
Nehad Abulkomsan, ECWR’s Chairwoman, confirms that such decisions contradict state policies, and contribute to the decline of Egypt’s position at the level of development indicators. Indicators that measure gender inequality confirm Egypt’s low ranking in terms of participation and economic opportunities for women. Egypt ranked 140 Among 153 countries, according to the 2019 Gender Gap Report issued by the World Economic Forum. This indictor declined from the previous year, as it ranked 139 out of 149 countries worldwide in 2018, while it ranked 135 in 2017.
Ms. AbulKomsan calls for a rapid intervention from the Minister of Tourism, Dr. Khaled El Anany, to end this crisis which limits women’s mobility and employment.
Ms. AbulKomsan also calls on the National Council for Women, as a governmental body charged with reviewing relevant laws and decisions, to review this decision with the Minister of Tourism and the concerned authorities.
