(Cairo, November 14, 2023)
The President of the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights (ECWR), Nehad Abuel komsan, delivered an oral intervention before the United Nations Committee against Torture at the 78th session. This committee, composed of experts from various countries, is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Her speech before the Committee against Torture stated, “The Egyptian Constitution stipulates the protection of women from violence and the prevention of torture and cruel treatment, but the laws do not adequately guarantee protection and enforcement procedures lack serious mechanisms to prevent violence, whether committed by representatives of the state or within the country.” The family and the state ignore it.
There is no mechanism for monitoring women’s reports in police stations, dealing seriously with these reports, and protecting women who report them. Nor is there protection for women in law enforcement places, especially in places where child guardianship rulings issued by family courts are implemented, which turn into an arena of violence against mothers who dare to request a divorce. In addition, the response of police departments to make counter-reports in the event that women report violence leads to women’s intimidation and their abandonment of reports against violence, and there is no mechanism to protect women who report crimes of torture or violence, whether it occurs in the public space or occurs within the family.”
The intervention concluded with the following recommendations:
First: Accelerating the issuance of a unified law to confront violence against women
Second: Establishing a unified definition of torture and violence for all practices against women
Third: Providing protection for women in places where judgments issued by family courts are implemented
Fourth: Protecting women from the use of family kidnapping of children to pressure them and consider it torture for women and children.
It is worth noting that the United Nations Committee against Torture, at its 78th session, is reviewing the measures taken by the Egyptian government to prevent and combat torture, as well as evaluate the country’s compliance with the provisions of the Convention. This review process includes analyzing the report submitted by Egypt, engaging in constructive dialogue with government representatives, and considering the input of non-governmental organizations, including the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights.
ECWR has previously submitted a written information document to the Committee, which prepares a comprehensive report detailing and analyzing a number of laws that include discrimination and violence against women, while presenting the recommendations with the aim of providing the Committee with information that contributes to the universal periodic review process. ECWR was among several Egyptian human rights institutions active in the field of human rights, but ECWR was unique in highlighting women’s rights and the gaps they suffer from in the application of laws. Such events provide the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights (ECWR) the opportunity to present its views and recommendations regarding the situation of women. In Egypt, this platform represents an effective and real tool for non-governmental organizations to share their expertise, experiences, and efforts in defence and advocacy with the members of the committee and the Egyptian delegation participating in this session.
