Does Egypt really need a Women's Affairs Ministry?
Egyptian member of parliament Hiyam Halawa announced a proposal for the establishment of a Ministry for Women's Affairs, but some Egyptians argue it wouldn't help advance women’s status in the country.
CAIRO — Egyptian member of parliament Hiyam Halawa announced Dec. 3 that she had finalized a proposal for the establishment of a Ministry for Women's Affairs.
Egypt would not be the first Arab country to establish a Ministry for Women’s Affairs. Other countries, such as Tunisia, Lebanon and Palestine already took this step. But in Egypt, the National Council for Women (NCW) is the national mechanism regulating and addressing Egyptian women's affairs. The council was established by a presidential decree in 2000 and is subordinate to the president of the republic.
