2017 declared as the year of the Egyptian woman

Egyptian women play a major role in public life and the state is stepping up investments in their education: two out of three woman aged 25-35 have completed high school, while one in five has a university degree. These women are a valuable resource – and yet, at 26% compared with 79%, Egyptian women have a significantly lower labour market participation than men. In the global Gender Gap Index, which gauges the disparities between men and women in countries, Egypt stands at place 136 of 145.

The reasons for these inequalities are diverse: routes to work are often long and working hours inflexible. Many employers have a policy of not employing mothers and if they do, there is a lack of childcare facilities, and protective provisions, such as maternity leave, are often bypassed. An added factor is that many women experience sexual harassment on the way to work or at the workplace – for many, an understandable reason not to pursue gainful employment outside the home.

At the same time, the integration of women as players in economy and society is of fundamental importance for sustainable social harmony and economic success: According to a survey by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), promotion of women’s labour market participation and access to employment options could raise gross domestic product by some 34 percent.