19% of Egyptian women experienced increased gender-based violence since COVID outbreak: Survey

CAIRO – 5 July 2021: Nineteen percent of Egyptian women have experience increased gender-based violence since the outbreak of the Coronavirus, said Salma Nasser, program specialist at UN Women as quoting a survey conducted by Baseera center, the National Council for Women and UN Women. 

The survey explained that 33 percent of the respondents said that there was increase violence, tension, problems within families due to the imposed lockdown during the beginning of the pandemic.  

This came during a UN workshop addressing the fifth goal on gender equality and ending all forms of discrimination against all women and girls.

Nasser explained that the United Nations has supported in developing safe public spaces for women and ladies who were subject to violence across different governorates.

These women-friendly public spaces, currently in Giza and Damietta, provide social and entertainment activities for women and their children, as well as programs to raise women awareness regarding their rights and health among others.

Regarding raising awareness of women towards their rights, the United Nations coordinate with complaints bureau at the National Council for Women, which help victims of violence and hire lawyers for them. The UN also coordinate with hosting centers affiliated with the Ministry of Solidarity, which provides medical and mental health support for women subject to violence.

Nasser further said that the pandemic has increased the economic pressure on Egyptian families especially after many citizens, both women and men, were forced to stay home.

She added that among those who left their jobs, around 96 percent of men were able to return to their work, while only 40 percent of women were able to return to their jobs.

“The rate of unemployment among women is three times more that among men,” she stated, adding that countries around the world strongly rely on women in their economies.

She added that women’s participation in the Egyptian economy is estimated by L.E. 67 billion.

The United Nations Information Center organizes a series of workshops to shed light on the goals of sustainable development.