This report is issue no. 40 of the Economic and Social Rights series. The report undertakes studying the causes and aspects of (official and social) violence against women in Egypt.
The report presents the problems that Egyptian women face, especially violence, such as: accidents, kidnapping and the different violations of their rights. It also presents the causes that lead women to suicide, because of financial problems, fear of exposing their affair or sexual relationship, family arguments, mistreatment, inheritance or because of any other social reasons. It also undertakes the causes of domestic violence, which represents the majority of violence types practiced against women in Egypt.
The report monitors the conditions and causes of violence against women during the first 6 months of 2005, as the report has monitored 54 cases of kidnapping and sexual assaults, 29 cases of murder, 140 cases of domestic violence, 18 cases of neglecting health care, 28 cases of suicide and 27 cases varied between other different accidents, in addition to that, there were 4 cases of official violence practiced against women rights. These cases were gathered from both the urban areas and the countryside in Egypt from different socials classes.
These 300 cases that were monitored during the first 6 months of 2005, were handled by the Egyptian newspapers, as 51 cases were handled by El Wafd newspaper, 62 cases by El Masry El Youm, 45 cases by Nahdet Masr, 56 cases by El Ahrar, 17 cases by El Ahram, 5 cases by El Khamees, 10 cases by El Haqiqa, 6 cases by El Naba’, 5 cases by El Gomhoreya, 5 cases by Saut El Omma, 3 cases by El Mogaz, 3 cases by El Seyasy El Masry, 4 cases by El Tagam’a2 cases by El Gamaheer, 5 cases by El Maydan, 16 cases by Halat El youm, one case by El Masaa’a, one case by El Ghad, one case by El Akhbar, one case by Aafaq Arabeya and one case by El Ahaly newspaper.
The report also undertakes when these cases were handled, as in January 33 cases were handled, 39 in February, 63 in March, 64 in April, 51 in May and 50 in June.
In the First Section, the report undertakes the causes of kidnapping women and sexual assaults practiced against them, like a young man seducing a college student telling her that he could find a job for her, claiming that he has a lot of job opportunities, but instead he rapes her, ignoring her pleading and that she has a weak heart.
In the Second Section: the report undertakes the causes of murder accidents against women, like a peddler woman killing a housewife and robbing her.
In the Third Section, the report undertakes the causes of domestic violence against women. This section was divided into 2 parts. The first part is about assaulting women because of marital arguments and problems, like a husband killing his wife and three children because of their increasing demands. The second part is about violence against women among the family members, like an unemployed young man trying to rape his cousin, but when she fought back, he strangled her to death.
In the Fourth Section, the report undertakes neglecting health care for women, like a young female lawyer loosing her left eye when a doctor was operating on her nose, he left her in a bad condition and didn’t complete the operation.
In the Fifth Section, the report undertakes the causes of women suicide in Egypt, like a young girl setting herself on fire in a shop because of her despair of correcting her illegitimate relationship with the shop owner.
In the Sixth Section, the report undertakes other accidents that happen to women, like an electrocution shock that led to death, falling off a building or dying in road accidents … etc.
In the Seventh Section, the report undertakes the causes of official violence against women, like a policeman breaking into the women’s cell and trying to rape a detained woman who was still being investigated.
In the Eighth Section, the report undertakes some notes and recommendations to stop violence against women, as this section shows that violence happens against Egyptian women because of economic, social and cultural problems, and that the economic factors are the main causes for violence against women. It also confirms that:
The highest rate of these felons and victims are illiterate.
Most of the violence practiced against women was in the household.
Violence against women is more in the urban areas than in the countryside.
There is a direct relation between violence in the Egyptian society and the forms of burden and daily pressure that people face.
Most of the crime accidents go back to financial problems, family and marital arguments, taking drugs … etc.
Women face clear discrimination at work because of the common culture and customs despite the legislations and laws that state equality between men and women.
This section also presents some recommendations to stop violence against women, like:
Making all the necessary procedures to eliminate discrimination against women economically, legally and politically.
Raising the people’s awareness about women rights.
Raising the awareness of the society about household violence against women, and eliminate the early marriage and the female circumcision phenomenons.
Guaranteeing health services for women, especially in the rural and random areas.
Work on eliminating the effects of the free market policies on working women in the private and the unofficial sectors.
Confirming women right in receiving training and rehabilitation to develop their skills.
Confirming women rights in equal fees and treatment, in addition to receiving health and social insurance.
Social insurance must include all women (working and non-working) and children, which must be suitable to the living conditions and increasing prices, in addition to eliminating the obstacles that hinder implementing the existing laws that confirm women right in social insurance.
Giving exceptional pensions to the families of the detainees and imprisoned people after studying their living conditions till the detainee gets out of prison, especially when he is the only supporter for his family.
Taking care of rural women by expanding their development chances, improving all services in the countryside and provide them with adequate working chances.
The LCHR demands all CSOs and all of those interested in improving women conditions to work together for the reinforcement of women rights and stop violence against them for a better country where everyone could have a safe and decent life.