Factbox: Egyptian Women's Golden Era

Millions of Egyptian women have benefited from the directives that President Abdel Fattah El Sisi gave to the Central Bank of the need to prohibit gender discrimination and grant funding and loans for all.

Sisi's directive has opened the door to all women in Egypt, as the criterion during the coming period will be competence and the priority of need for opportunity, without considering any discrimination. This is an exceptional decision that confirms the president's constant bias towards the citizen without any discrimination. 

According to official figures issued by the United Nations, Egypt ranks second in the Middle East and North Africa, in the number of leadership positions for women, the number of women ministers, and the highest percentage in parliamentary history.

The current parliament (with its two chambers) has the largest percentage of women in the country's history, with 165 female representatives in the House of Representatives only. Thus, the state takes into account the representation of women in all aspects of political life.

Sisi has corrected the mistakes of the past, by applying the constitution that abolished discrimination during the recent period, on the ground. 

Sisi issued is the speedy adoption of a draft law to prevent child marriage, as an independent law explicitly stipulating the legal age for marriage, directing the concerned authorities to ensure the greatest degree of safety in public transportation for women, and directing the responsible authorities, especially the development of medium and small enterprises, to implement projects of rural women programs and limiting the phenomenon of female debtors.

Moreover, women’s health initiatives also express the president's interest in the women of Egypt, and the always-happening honors to influential women make all women dream of innovation.

The Information and Decision Support Center in the Council of Ministers issued a report shedding light on the state’s steps to support and empower women. 

The current constitution states, “We write a constitution that achieves equality between us in rights and duties without any discrimination. We are male and female citizens. We are the Egyptian people. The sovereign nation, this is our will, and this is the constitution of our revolution.” 

The representation of women in government jobs has reached 45 percent, surpassing the global average of 32 percent.

The Information Center stressed that the representation of women in the House of Representatives has reached 27.4 percent, surpassing the global average of 25.6 percent, which is the highest percentage enjoyed by women in the history of parliament.

In the Senate, women won 40 seats this year, accounting for 13.3 percent of the total representatives, compared to 12 seats, or 5.7 percent in 2012.

Regarding the presence of women in the judiciary, the Information and Decision Support Center in the Council of Ministers pointed out that the number of female judges in courts increased by 57.1 percent, reaching 66 in 2021, compared to 42 in 2012.

Moreover, there are eight female ministers, at a rate of 24.2 percent, compared to only four women, a rate of 11.8 percent in 2014, and two women, by 5.7 percent in 2012.

Dr. Maya Morsi, President of the National Council for Women, said that this representation is a great victory and a new acquisition for Egyptian women, which is added to the track record of her gains during her golden age.