CAIRO — President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi proclaimed 2017 “The Year of Egyptian Women.” With that — and with 2017 coming to an end — women in Egypt have indeed achieved political and legal gains. Women served as governors, and the inheritance law was approved. However, a number of social issues — and other laws such as the one protecting women from violence — have yet to be resolved.

Although the gains Egyptian women made in 2017 were notable, their aspirations go far beyond what was accomplished. They want more laws ensuring their rights, like amending the personal status law, and they seek to be shielded from violence.

On Dec. 5, the Egyptian parliament finally approved a bill submitted by the government to amend the provisions of the inheritance law to ensure women their right to inheritance — especially in Upper Egypt, where 95.5% of women in Sohag and Qena have been deprived of their inheritance, as per a study by the South Valley University in Qena conducted in September.

Egyptian women occupied important positions during 2017. Four women handled significant ministerial portfolios in the current government (immigration, investment and international cooperation, social solidarity and planning). Women constitute 15% of parliament and account for 89 members of parliament. A woman, Rashida Mohamed Anwar, was appointed head of the Egyptian Administrative Prosecution Authority on June 29, making her the third woman to occupy this position.