The National Council for Women, UN Women, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UNICEF, with support from the European Union, celebrated the launch of the “Shaping the Future of Girls and Women” program under the broader Egyptian Women Empowerment Initiative.
The event, held at Al-Azhar Park in Cairo, featured a high-level dialogue with the participation of senior representatives from the Egyptian government, the United Nations and the European Union. Among the speakers were Counselor Amal Ammar, EU Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst and UN Resident Coordinator Elena Panova.
The launch drew wide attendance, including civil society organizations and women and girls from across Egypt who have benefited from previous phases of the initiative. The new program aims to expand opportunities for women and girls, enhance access to essential services and strengthen their participation in social and economic development.
In her address, Counselor Amal Ammar, President of the National Council for Women, said Egypt has witnessed “a remarkable journey of investing in girls,” beginning at age 10 — a pivotal stage in their development. She highlighted coordination with relevant ministries and underscored the importance of initiatives such as Noura and Dawwie, both under the patronage of Mrs. Entissar El-Sisi. This support, she noted, reinforces programs designed to honor and empower Egyptian girls and women.
UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt Elena Panova expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to take part in the launch and paid tribute to “the young girls and boys, the true heroes of today.” She thanked the Egyptian government for its strong commitment and effective leadership in advancing women’s empowerment. Panova stressed that empowering women and girls lies at the core of the United Nations agenda and represents “the empowerment of humanity as a whole,” echoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Panova added that, for the past five years, the UN team in Egypt has worked to ensure women and girls are included in all programs, including climate-related initiatives. She noted that the Women Empowerment Initiative is the first fully joint program executed by all participating UN agencies and partner organizations, each playing a crucial role in supporting girls and women from their school years onward. “This was clearly reflected in the inspiring examples we saw today,” she said.
EU Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst expressed pride in the strong and productive partnership between the European Union and the Egyptian government, as well as with the National Council for Women. She said the EU remains committed to supporting effective and sustainable efforts that advance the rights and opportunities of women and girls across Egypt.
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