12 Years After a UN Report Discovered 99% of Ladies in Egypt Had Been Harassed, Are Egypt’s Streets Safer At the moment?

Warning: The knowledge beneath could also be triggering as a result of particulars of sexual assault instances reported. The streets of Cairo are all the time alive: automobiles honking, distributors calling out, buddies chatting at late-night cafés. However for a lot of ladies, strolling by way of the town means staying alert. A easy stroll can shift in seconds: a stare, a remark, a hand that stretches too far. Twelve years in the past, a United Nations report discovered that 99 % of Egyptian ladies had skilled sexual harassment in some type. The determine was surprising, but for many, it solely confirmed what they already knew: which is that harassment was a part of every day life. Since then, legal guidelines have modified, consciousness campaigns have been launched, and social actions sparked. But each few months, a brand new harassment case makes headlines, one other reminder that the issue is much from solved. In 2020, the case of Ahmed Bassam Zaki, a former college pupil accused of sexually harassing and assaulting a number of ladies, ignited a nationwide dialog. His arrest was seen as a turning level, proof that authorities have been lastly listening. However, the headlines didn’t cease there. In 2024 alone, a number of instances reignited public outrage….