Two weeks ago, Egypt passed an anti-sexual harassment law that encompasses street harassment. Sexual violence in Egypt has ironically been in the news in the weeks since….because it’s happening so much, law or no law. Here’s a round-up of some of the articles on our radar:
“There, in the middle of throbbing mass of celebrators reveling in President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s recent inauguration, a woman was stripped naked days ago and sexual assaulted by a mob of men. Her backside, as shown in a now-viral YouTube video, was bruised and blackened before her limp form was carted off to a waiting vehicle.
A TV host, who later said she was misunderstood, brushed off the assault as “fun.”
“They are happy,” she giggled. “The people are having fun.”
The video illuminated what almost every woman in Egypt already knew: Sexual assault and harassment is endemic regardless of a recent law that criminalized it. Ninety-nine percent of Egyptian women say they have experienced sexual harassment and 97 percent say men have lewdly touched them without permission. At least 250 cases of “mass sexual rape and mass sexual assault” occurred between late 2012 and January of 2014, a cadre of 29 women’s rights groups said following the recent Tahir Square attack.”
“Egyptian Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim has ordered a new department formed to combat crimes of violence against women in collaboration with the ministry’s department of human rights, a security source told Al-Ahram Arabic news website.
The source said the new department will receive complaints of assaults or violence against women and take the needed legal action, especially in cases of mass assault.
Forces of the new department should be present in crowded places, public transportation, festivals, sporting matches and other places where women are especially exposed to assault.
The decision on the new department comes after cases of mass sexual attack in Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square during celebrations of the presidency of Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. The president himself and his wife visited one of the victims in hospital, where El-Sisi apologised to Egyptian women and vowed to take strong action to confront increasing violence against women.”
“Protesters took to the streets of Cairo on Saturday to call for more protections against sexual harassment which is seen as a critical problem the country.
The marchers’ demands included stricter punishment for sexual offenders, and an end to sexual violence as well as discrimination against women.
The protest was sparked by the uploading of a recent video on YouTube which showed a mob of men surrounding a 19-year-old woman and gang raping her in Tahir Square where crowds had gathered to celebrate the election of the President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi earlier this month.
The protest movement is being spearheaded by Deena al-Shabba a student who set up the “Walk like an Egyptian Woman” campaign in response to the video.”
“Mohamed Ibrahim, the interior minister, said this week that he would create a new department to combat violence, including sexual assault and harassment, against women. But throwing men in jail must not be considered a panacea. Accountability is necessary, but we also need a societal shift that aims for both justice and respect for women. I know that will take a long time.
We must connect domestic violence, marital rape and female genital mutilation with street sexual violence and clearly call them all crimes against women. And just as we stood next to men to overthrow President Mubarak, we need men to stand alongside us now. Where is their outrage? Do they want to be synonymous with a hatred of women?”
“This is what the Sisi government and the new committee should do:
First, enact further legal reforms. The Penal Code needs a comprehensive, modern definition of rape and a clear definition of sexual assault. Article 267 of the Penal Code refers to rape as “whosoever has sexual intercourse with a female without her consent.” The term “rape” should include all forms of penetration without consent or in coercive circumstances that negate consent, including vaginal, anal, and oral penetration by any body part or by other instruments. Articles 268 and 269 of the Penal Code criminalize “indecent assault,” but do not define “indecent assault.” The government should also enact legislation on all forms of violence against women which address prevention of violence, and protection and support of survivors, including for instance domestic violence.
Second, formulate a comprehensive national strategy on violence against women to implement such legislation. This should include a monitoring mechanism to oversee implementation of legislation which reports to Parliament, and craft national protocols and strategies for all relevant ministries. The authorities should consult with Egyptian women’s rights groups and survivors when drafting the strategy and any new legislation, and coordinate with all components of society in a position to raise awareness. There should be a mechanism to fund implementation of the legislative reforms and strategy.
Third, the government needs to develop protocols on ensuring adequate medical and psycho-social support for victims of sexual assault. These should address confidentiality, dealing with trauma, referring victims for other services, and providing timely treatment. Training should be provided to police and medical officials on all such protocols and laws.
The authorities can look to the United Nations Handbook for Legislation on Violence against Women which sets out components on combating violence against women.
The Egyptian authorities are required to act—both under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, to which Egypt is a state party, and Egypt’s new constitution, to protect “women against all forms of violence.”
