Egypt is set to review its experience of women's empowerment as it attends the 65th session of the United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women. The UN headquarters in New York launched the commission's session which saw active Egyptian participation through the National Council for Women (NCW). The council is attending in cooperation with Egypt's Permanent Mission to the UN in New York. This year, the session holds its work under the theme, "The full and effective participation of women and their decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls." The Commission organises most of its work through virtual means, and lasts for two weeks. NCW President Dr Maya Morsi reviewed, in a video message, the remarkable progress made by Egypt in the field of empowering women and achieving gender equality. Morsi referred to Egypt's success in presenting an important resolution on strengthening a rapid response to the repercussions of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on women and girls. The response was approved by the United Nations General Assembly by consensus. Ambassador Mohamed Idris, Egypt's permanent representative to the UN in New York, said that the Commission on the Status of Women is the most important international forum and gathering to discuss women's empowerment issues. He added that the committee's work during this session is particularly important, as it is the first session to be held 25 years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on the Advancement of Women. Idris also said that the committee is convening its sessions in an unprecedented manner, combining digital participation with in-person participation, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He pointed out that Egyptian achievements in the level of women's empowerment in various economic, political, and community fields represent a national success story.
