Women making unprecedented gains under Sisi

The Egyptian state seeks to empower women in all fields, and this was demonstrated during the fourth edition of the World Youth Forum (WYF).

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pays special attention to women.

Women have assumed the highest leadership positions in the state. They participated in many projects, jobs and leadership positions in the past seven years since the president came to power.

Throughout Egypt's long history, women have proven that they are an essential part of this country's success and progress. They are fully fledged partners in all its battles, wars and challenges.

Women made huge gains under Sisi. They reached a historical level in political and economic empowerment. They are also strongly present in all government positions.

Women's gains began with the president's announcement of 2017 as the Year of Egyptian Women.

Women also enjoyed strong representation in the parliament, possessing 30.3% of the seats in the legislature.

Women ministers also make up 25% of Cabinet ministers, the highest in Egyptian history.

Thirty-one percent of all governors are also women.

In 2018, 68.8% of all projects that were implemented by the Egyptian state also targeted women. This was unprecedented in Egyptian history.

Women unemployment dropped also to 16.8% in 2021, from 24.8% in 2014.

President Sisi said his administration offers great support to women.

"Male cabinet members are upset with me because of my bias towards women," the president said on Tuesday, during a meeting with the representatives of international organizations operating in Egypt as part of the fourth edition of the WYF.

This bias, he said, is there because he has great appreciation for the role women play.

The president noted that there is no discrimination between women and men when it comes to salaries anywhere around the nation.

"Women represent nearly half of the workforce in our country," the president said.

He added that women played a great role in Egypt's transition.

They were, he said, keen to protect their country's identity and defend its values.

"Egyptian women also bore the brunt of the burdens of economic reforms," the president said.

A session, titled 'Towards a safe and inclusive world for women', was held on the second day of the WYF.

Session speakers drew attention to a number of important issues affecting women, especially during this time of the pandemic.

Women, they said, pandemic-induced lockdowns put additional pressures on women.

Some women, they added, have lost their jobs because of these closures and because of the pandemic.

Violence also increased against women as one in every three women was subjected to this violence, they said.

Women are the main breadwinners for around 30% of Egyptian families, the speakers said.

They noted that around 96% of the males who had lost their jobs because of the pandemic had have already returned to these jobs, whereas 40% of females managed to retain their jobs.