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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.
Egyptian Muslim women take part in evening prayers called "Tarawih" on Laylat al-Qadr or Night of Decree, outside Amr Ibn El-Aas mosque, the first and oldest mosque ever built on the land of Egypt, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in old Cairo, Egypt June 21, 2017. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh - RC144969C2E0
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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.

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