Women, youth and people with disabilities in the new republic
Women, youth and people with disabilities in the New Republic
Egypt was – and still is – an impenetrable fortress against the calamities of time, and there are many situations in which its truth and the truth of its people and their minerals have emerged. One of these positions is the June 30 Revolution, as the year 2013 was a sign and a step towards a new Egypt and a modern republic. In it, Egyptians have a fair life, in which they enjoy security, and in which they can find shade under the shadow of sustainable achievements, those achievements that preserve our land and its resources for us and for future generations.
From this side, among the victories of June 30 was the interest in political and parliamentary life in the issues of women, youth, and people with disabilities. This interest was confirmed by the 2014 Constitution, as it was an effective implementation of the directions of the June 30 Revolution. Women are half of society, and hold leadership positions, in addition to being mothers, wives, and housewives. They are also able to live under any circumstances and in any place, and perform their work in various positions with unparalleled efficiency, whatever their responsibilities are.
The 2014 Constitution was the first constitution to directly guarantee the rights of Egyptian women; Its articles guarantee women – in all their roles in life – equal opportunities and community participation, and this is in light of clear equality – civilly, politically, socially and culturally – in rights and duties between them and men.
Since 2014 – one year after the June 30 Revolution – the Egyptian state has worked to activate measures and procedures that call for adequate representation of women in parliamentary assemblies. The Constitution allocated 25% to it, according to Article No. (180). The state also guaranteed women’s right to obtain public jobs, even senior positions in judicial institutions and bodies, without discrimination or abuse. The 2014 Constitution also included other constitutional directives related to women’s rights in various fields, such as social services, education, and personal status.
The year 2017 was the year of women par excellence, as the political leadership reflected its interest in women in the form of initiatives and programs that empower women economically and socially. Because she has superior capabilities in many fields, and because she is capable of leading many positions, such as holding ministerial positions, and scientific positions such as deans of colleges, and the president of the National Council on Disability is a woman, and all of this is within Egypt’s approach since the June 30 Revolution, and what its vision called for; “Egypt Vision 2030”.
As for the youth, the winds of development were strong in this field, as they are the pillar of society and the leaders and foundation of the future, and this is what the 2014 Constitution took into account. Hence, the year 2016 was a year for youth, and the beginning was before this by holding youth conferences in all governorates of the Republic, and organizing international youth forums, which were the truest expression of the concept of the modern republic. In it, Egypt was able to motivate its sectors to support youth in a way that is in line with the global movement, and in a way that suits Egyptian ambitions through its relevant strategies.
We can see youth support in all the efforts of the political leadership, in line with sustainable development plans, as the state has guaranteed the care of young people, and activated programs and initiatives capable of discovering their talents, developing their abilities at all levels, and encouraging them to work collectively and voluntarily.
The 2014 Constitution, in its Article No. (180) – which I referred to previously – indicated that a quarter of the seats in the House of Representatives were allocated to the youth category, those who are under the age of thirty-five. This parliamentary empowerment is one of the rights that the political leadership has implemented in practice. Therefore, no one can deny that such political and parliamentary trends are a positive indicator of the development situation in Egypt, as the government interacts with its promising youth with support that responds to the requirements of the present, and looks with interest to the expectations of the future.
Then the state’s interest in the category of people with disabilities was through the issuance of Law No. (10) of 2018, the articles of which came to meet the requirements of this important category, and after it came Law No. (11) establishing the National Council for Disability. Finally, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi ratified Law No. (161) of 2023, related to supporting the “Able to Difference Fund,” which enhances social and economic protections and provides health rights and appropriate job opportunities for people with disabilities.
Since the June 30 Revolution until now, Mr. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has continued to support the status of this Egyptian group, and has not left a local or international event without praising them and their efforts in various areas of life. He has also always listened to mothers of people with disabilities. The result of this presidential interest was that the year 2018 was designated for people with disabilities.
The “Able to Difference Fund” was a breakthrough and a qualitative shift in the state’s dealings with people with disabilities, and its inauguration was one of many governmental steps, as the political leadership paid great attention to them in the national dialogue to empower people with disabilities on the social and cultural levels. Therefore, the government included a special session for them at the national dialogue table in the Youth Committee, and there it called for their empowerment in the field of entrepreneurship.
I – like all Egyptian women – see efforts being made in the field of the rights of women, youth, and people with disabilities, which I have noticed since the activation of the 2014 Constitution, as Egypt has become more and more on the path to sustainable development in all fields; The segments of Egyptian society deserve to obtain goodness in the form of a just, comprehensive and sustainable life.
In conclusion, I call on all Egyptians to join hands with its leadership, and to cooperate in supportingsustainable development programs, and to strengthen Egypt’s steps in developing all sectors, which is development that requires all the efforts of society, and requires cooperation between the public and private sectors to crystallize efforts and implement ambitions; May the flag of Egypt remain flying high.
