Strengthening the Capacities of Women Leaders – Aswan

Edraak Foundation for Development and Equality organized a training program entitled “Strengthening the Capacities of Women Leaders” over four days in Aswan Governorate. The training included workshops and interactive sessions covering topics such as gender concepts, strategies for combating violence against women in all its forms, sexual and reproductive health education and advocacy techniques.

The training was attended by several female MPs, members of the Political Parties Youth Coordination, and representatives from political parties in the governorate.

Strengthening the Capacities of Women Parliamentarians on Gender Concepts

Edraak Foundation for Development and Equality, in cooperation with Kayan Foundation, organized a three-day training entitled “Enhancing the Capacities of Women Parliamentarians in the House of Representatives and Senate on Gender Concepts.” The interactive training discussed on its first day several topics, such as reproductive health and gender issues, discrimination against women in Egyptian law using the Penal Code as a model, and gender-based violence and its different forms.

On the second day, we dealt with Egypt’s international obligations regarding women’s rights and how to curate gender-sensitive policies.

On the third and final day, the interactive training discussed many topics, the most important of which were: designing and using gender-sensitive parliamentary oversight tools, gender-specific committees within the House of Representatives, and developing communication skills with the media.

We were honored to organize and attend the training in the presence of several female MPs from the House of Representatives, namely:

Representative Amira Saber _ Representative Martha Mahrous _ Representative Marcelle Samir _ Representative Rihab Abdel Ghany _ Representative Eman El Alfi _ Representative Nashwa El Sherif _ Representative Manal Helal _ Representative Fatima Selim _ Representative Irene Said

The training was also attended by several female representatives from the Senate, namely:

Representative Heba Sharoubim _ Representative Nadia Mabrouk _ Representative Noha Zaki _ Representative Rajia El Faky _ Representative Suha Said.

Roundtable: Enhancing Efforts to Pass a Law Criminalizing Child Marriage

Edraak Foundation for Development and Equality, in collaboration with ACT Foundation, organized a roundtable discussion titled “Joint Efforts to Enhance the Issuance of a Law Criminalizing Child Marriage” as part of the “Marriage with the Mind, Not the Body” campaign launched in September 2022. This campaign coincided with the discussion of proposals to criminalize child marriage in the Egyptian Parliament and continued through the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

The session included representatives from the Egyptian Parliament who discussed key points of their proposed laws, as well as representatives from international organizations and Egyptian civil society working on child and women’s protection as well as a number of Egyptian jurists represented by advisors from judicial and legal bodies. Participants included:

– MP Amira El-Adly
– MP Soheir Abdel Hamid
– Counselor Dr. Mohamed Samir, Deputy Chairman of the Administrative Prosecution Authority and Spokesperson for the Authority
– Counselor Dr. Moataz Abu Zaid, Deputy Chairman of the State Council and Public Law Lecturer
– Ms. Salma El-Fawal, Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF
– Mr. Hany Helal, President of the Egyptian Foundation for the Advancement of Childhood Conditions
– Mr. Mahmoud Mortada, Child Rights Consultant and Board Member of the Egyptian Coalition for Children’s Rights
– Dr. Norhan Salama, Project Director of Love Matters
– Ms. Dina Abdel Nabi, Partnership Officer at Love Matters
– Dr. Amira Abdel Aal, Public Health Programs Director at the Egyptian Association for Members of the Royal College of Pediatrics
– Dr. Noha El-Rafie, Associate Professor of Forensic Medicine at Ain Shams University

The seminar was moderated by Ms. Zeinab Khair, Chairman of the Egyptian Association for Economic and Social Rights.

A Guidebook on Support and Referral Services for Abused Women and Survivors

The number of violence against women (VAW) crimes in Egypt has increased despite all the attempts to pass a law criminalizing this violence. In addition to the efforts of civil society organizations, and despite the efforts made by the state to reduce VAW, especially through the development of women’s shelters which have proved to be ineffective for several reasons, the guide tries to shed light on these shortcomings and to address the issue of violence against women in detail. The first chapter starts with the definition of the concept of violence against women, explaining the types of referral systems and the impact of the different forms of gender-based violence on victims and survivors.

The guide has two main goals; the first is related to skills represented in enriching the knowledge of each of the associations and institutions that provide referral services for victims and survivors of VAW. The second goal is a monitoring goal. It is related to monitoring, inventorying and updating information and data on governmental and private services provided to women and girls victims and survivors of violence.

The second chapter of the guide elaborates on how to deal with victims and survivors of VAW, what rights and services should be available to them as well as the qualities that should be present in the service providers. The third and final chapter deals with the governmental and private services provided to survivors of violence and the challenges facing the referral system in Egypt from coordination between different agencies and bureaucracy in Egypt.

 

To view the full guide in Arabic (for translated versions of the guide, please contact us):دليل إرشادي عن الإحالة للمعنفات والناجيات من العنف في مصر

“If you don’t know… Knowledge makes a difference.”

During the “If You Don’t Know” campaign launched by Edraak Foundation for Development and Equality on the occasion of the 16 Days of Activism to Combat Violence Against Women
With the aim of creating some awareness of the official and civil services provided to women and girls to protect them from violence, we have collected all the links related to the campaign in one post to facilitate access to numbers and services.

What is the “If you don’t know” campaign?

1- About the campaign
https://www.facebook.com/…/a.414626236…/952178142369647/
2-Press release
https://www.facebook.com/…/a.414626236…/952123155708479/
What are the safe centers for women?
https://www.facebook.com/…/a.414626236…/953283905592404/
https://www.facebook.com/…/a.2865134822…/952568958997232
Safe Homes Guide (Women’s Shelters Guide)
https://www.facebook.com/…/a.286513482…/952553778998750/
Training Videos
  1. https://fb.watch/9H0gVvv22S/
Governmental Institutions and Initiatives
1- Collective units for the protection of women
https://www.facebook.com/…/a.286513482…/956141098640018/
2- Medical and Forensic Consultation Unit at Ain Shams University
https://www.facebook.com/…/a.414626236…/956933211894140/
3- General Administration of Internet Investigations
https://www.facebook.com/…/a.286513482…/956136931973768/
4- The National Council for Women
https://www.facebook.com/…/a.4146262361…/954598005460994
5- Human Rights Sector at the Ministry of Interior
https://www.facebook.com/…/a.414626236…/954080995512695/
6- The Safe Women’s Unit at Qasr El-Aini
https://www.facebook.com/…/a.414626236…/954002442187217/
Non-governmental Organizations and Initiatives
1- Places that provide free psychological support
https://www.facebook.com/…/a.414626236…/956754195245375/
Articles
1- Why do we not resist violence and prefer silence?
https://www.facebook.com/…/a.2865134822…/955635432023918
2- Why do victims of domestic violence refrain from speaking?
https://www.facebook.com/…/a.414626236…/957535485167246/

 

Developing Research Skills for University Students

Over the course of two weeks, Edraak Foundation for Development and Equality organized two lectures for 20 students from the second year of the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, Helwan University. The lectures focused on teaching students how to write a research paper, utilize research tools, and design simple research forms. The aim was to collect data from target groups in preparation for field research on topics such as violence against women, dropout rates in education, and child labor. Additionally, the Foundation provided them with an opportunity for practical training in the Basateen neighborhood – specifically Ezbet El Nasr area in Cairo – to apply the theoretical knowledge they gained.

This initiative falls within the framework of the Foundation’s continuous support for active groups seeking knowledge and learning, demonstrating its commitment to helping them gain practical experience alongside their educational experiences.

 

2021 First Half – Activitiy Summary

The brief includes the organization’s accomplishments up to September 2021. To view the full briefing handout:

Newsletter- October 2021 referral system for women survivors of violence

Webinar: Partnership to End Violence Against Women

 

Under the theme “Partnership to End Violence Against Women: A Look at Efforts to Combat Female Genital Mutilation,” Edraak Foundation for Development and Equality organized a discussion session as part of their “Violence Against Women = Violence Against Society” campaign within the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The session, held on Zoom, featured:

– Representative Amira Saber, Member of Parliament,
– Dr. Randa Fakhr El-Din, Executive Director of the Qualitative Union for Combating Harmful Practices Against Women and Children
– Dr. Rami Metwally, Project Coordinator of Love Matters
– Mr. Reda Eldanbouki, Executive Director of the Women’s Center for Legal Guidance and Awareness
– Dr. Amr Hassan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Egypt Foundation for Health and Sustainable Development

The session was moderated by Ms. Nagwa Ramadan, Executive Director of Edraak Foundation.

 

 

Safety and Protection Initiative

As part of the Safety and Protection Initiative, launched by the Edraak Foundation for Development and Equality with the support of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Foundation carried out a number of door-to-door awareness campaigns on how to confront and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

During the campaigns, the Foundation distributed booklets containing preventive guidance and instructions on how to deal with patients, while also providing participants with brief advice on the importance of following precautionary measures, such as wearing face masks regularly and using disinfectants.

The Foundation also distributed a number of sustainable prevention and protection supplies in several areas across Cairo and Giza governorates, as well as in orphanages and elderly care homes throughout Greater Cairo.