NEW YORK: Presidential Aide for Political Affairs, Pakinam Al-Sharkawi, denied on Monday reports stating that the Egyptian delegation walked out as she delivered a statement at the United Nation's 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW57) in that is currently being held in New York. In her statement, Sharkawi said that Egypt's new constitution underlines the rights of women and stresses that they are full-fledged citizens. She added that it prohibits all forms of oppression and exploitation and pays attention to women who are breadwinners, divorced and widowed. “The Egyptian government attaches great importance to combating all of forms of violence,” Sharkawi said in her seven minutes speech before the UN. Sharkawi's statement enticed criticism from civil society organizations. Director of the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights, Nehad Abul Komsan, told Aswat Masriya that, in fact, the constitution does not protect women rights and she criticized Sharkawi's request for maintaining the cultural differences of some countries, saying that translates into more oppression. Meanwhile, the Network for Egyptian Feminist Organizations contributing to CSW57 expressed disdain from Egypt's official representation saying that it reflects the interests of Political Islam. “Sharakwi's statement tried to conceal facts and present a better status for women rights in Egypt, which in fact are withstanding a decline,” said a statement issued on Monday by the Network for Egyptian Feminist Organizations. The statement also pointed to the violations women are subjected to in Egypt, not just on the political sphere, but also on economic and social levels with a notable rise in societal violence. In contrast, Director of the National Council for Women, Mervat Al-Talawi said in a panel discussion at CSW57 that women were marginalized from power, assaulted if they chose to take part in demonstrations. Talawi also criticized religious-based groups' calls for veiling women, early marriage for girls, legitimizing the practice of circumcision and revoking divorce laws The 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women has the “Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls” as it main theme. BN
