ASMAA FATHI

Cairo- Women activists and feminists make great efforts to hold awareness-raising activities to prevent violence against women and girls. In Egypt’s Alexandria city, women started an initiative called, “My Right” to raise awareness and support survivors of violence against women and girls.

 NuJINHA spoke to Nancy Muhammad, lawyer and member of the initiative, about the activities of the initiative.

“We provide legal and psychological support to survivors of violence against women and girls, especially domestic violence. Until now, we have carried out many awareness-raising activities and campaigns, especially during the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence campaign, an annual international campaign that starts on 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. One of the women supported by our initiative was a woman, who was subjected to violence by her husband. We provided legal support to her and proved that she had been subjected to domestic violence. Finally, she got divorced.”

‘Gender-based violence is not normal’

Speaking about social norms and beliefs about domestic violence, Nancy Muhammad said, “Our society believes that women should endure domestic violence. Our society normalizes violence against women and asks women to accept it because men are the head of the family. When a woman voices against domestic violence, she is told, ‘We are all beaten’. The normalization of violence affects all women taking legal actions to get rid of domestic violence. Women taking legal actions are often stigmatized. We carry out awareness-raising activities to tell women that gender-based violence is not normal and that they have rights.”

Sexual violence and gender-based violence in health care intitutions

Nancy Muhammad also talked about the next activities of the initiative. “Currently, we work on organizing a workshop to raise awareness about sexual violence and gender-based violence in health care institutions. Women are subjected to violence by medical staff. This issue cannot be overlooked because its effects on women last for years. This year, we will carry out awareness-raising activities on protection mechanisms.”