Cairo: Four key ministerial portfolios are set to go to women in Egypt’s new government, for the first time in the history of the conservative country.
Egypt
| Quota Information | Parliament Information | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Are there legislated quotas? | Yes | Structure of parliament | Unicameral |
| For the Single/Lower House? | Yes | >Current members | 592 |
| Percentage of women | 27.70% | ||
| Source: Gender Quotas Database | Source: New Parline | ||
Note: this page was last updated on October 3, 2022.
Election for:
Egyptian Senate 2025 Round 1
May 21, 2025
Celebrating Women’s Digital Empowerment: Inspiring Stories from the Qodwa-Tech Beneficiaries
As we commemorate World Telecommunications and Information Society Day this year, with its theme of g
November 14, 2023
Sudanese women meet in Cairo to coordinate peace efforts
Calls for peace filled the air as representatives from over 20 existing and newly emerging women’s anti-war initiatives from various civic and political backgrounds and geographical locations within S
September 20, 2023
Egypt hosts dialogue to boost women’s political participation
Egypt is hosting a regional dialogue to boost women's political participation in the Arab world, bringing delegations from 11 Arab countries.
August 28, 2020
Senate elections in Egypt: 91 women compete for individual seats with 20 constituencies
In the fierce competition for individual seats in the Senate elections, women compete for 91 seats in 20 electoral districts nationwide, out of 787 candidatesin Cairo Governorate.
August 28, 2020
Parliament approves law on redrawing parliament electoral districts
Egypt’s House of Representatives approved, on Tuesday, a new law that will see the country’s parliamentary electoral districts redrawn.
June 16, 2020
Egypt parliament allocates 25% of seats to women
The Egyptian Parliament has approved an amendment to an article in the constitution to allocate 25 percent of seats to women, local daily Egypt Today reported.
May 21, 2020
Online empowerment: How this Egyptian women’s rights activist empowers women from home
The coronavirus pandemic is forcing us all to enter a new normal; a new way of life that is pushing us to change the way we work, create and understand the world.
November 29, 2019
Egypt: Launching "A Shuttered Public Sphere" campaign
Nazra for Feminist Studies launches a campaign entitled: “A Shuttered Public Sphere”, as part of the events of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign that starts on the 25th of November each year, which is the international da
June 7, 2019
UN organization lauds Egypt's plan of action on women
The UN Women Organization lauded the strong initiative adopted by Egypt and its decision to work out the first national plan of action to put into effect UN resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.
February 6, 2019
Proposed bill sets highest quota for women in Egypt's Parliament's history
The proposed amendments to the constitution have granted women a fixed quota. If the amendments are approved, women will hold 25 percent of the total parliamentary seats by the power of law.
June 4, 2018
Women ready to run for office in Egypt
CAIRO — Egypt has yet to pass a law needed to hold local elections, but hundreds of women will not be wallflowers waiting for an invitation to run for office.
January 29, 2018
New cabinet has 6 female ministers for the first time in Egypt’s history
“The merciful heart of the revolution,” a title given by late President Gamal Abdel Nasser to Hikmat Abu Zaid, the first Egyptian woman to be named a minister when she was appointed as the Minister of Social Affairs in 1962.
February 16, 2017
Egypt appoints first-ever female governor
Nadia Ahmed Abdou is the first fema
September 8, 2016
Civic Rights Organizations in Egypt Propose Amendments to FGM Provision
Local rights groups criticized on Tuesday the legal provision on female genital mutilation (FGM) in its current format, proposing several amendments besides those pu
August 25, 2016
Gender Justice Struggle in Egypt
When the Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRD) Regional Coalition for Middle East and North Africa met last month in Beirut, one seat was noticeably empty.
August 25, 2016
The Centre for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance (CEWLA) Criticizes Egyptian MP for his Remarks on FGM
The Centre for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance (CEWLA) has slammed MP Ahmed al-Tahawy, member of the parliamentary health committee, for saying that it is not appr
August 19, 2016
Letter to Egyptian President: Demanding the Closure of the Case No.173 and Revoking Travel
Dear Mr. President,
August 19, 2016
Egypt nominates Moushira Khattab for next UNESCO Director-General
A few months prior the UNESCO elections for the post of Director-General, Egypt decided to nominate the Egyptian ambassador and diplomat, Moushira Khattab to the
July 13, 2016
Director of leading feminist organization Nazra banned from travel
The Executive Director of Nazra For Feminist Studies center, Mozn Hassan, was banned from traveling last month. Nazra published the following statement:
April 5, 2016
A Solidarity Statement from the Egyptian Feminist Organizations Coalition with Nazra for Feminist Studies
February 18, 2016
Recommendations of the "Egyptian woman in Parliament 2015" Conference
The Arab Consultancy Office (ACO) in cooperation with the Egyptian Centre for Women’s
August 12, 2014
Webinar "Women's Participation in Constitution-Building processes in Egypt and Tunisia"
On August 19 at 9 am EDT iKNOW Politics organizes a webinar on Women's Participation in Constitution-Building p
December 20, 2013
Mansour calls on women to participate in referendum in Egypt
Interim President Adly Manosur called upon Egyptian women to participate in the referendum on the draft constitution set to take place on 14 and 15 January 2014.
November 23, 2013
Egyptian Women aim for 100 parliamentary seats
The Egyptian Feminist Union (EFU) announced Sunday the initiation of a 16 week campaign to raise EGP 30m to support female candidates running for the 2014 House of Representatives elections.
November 19, 2013
Egypt’s 'Muslim Sisterhood' moves from social work to politics
The Muslim Sisterhood, which remains under-reported, is a wing of the Muslim Brotherhood. But is it an organization that has a weight similar to that of the Brotherhood, or does it merely support the Brotherhood in times of need?
November 14, 2013
Egypt's women refuse to be intimidated
Egyptian women were at the heart of the revolution that toppled president Hosni Mubarak. Their contribution ranged from work in the labour movement to a female journalist breaking taboos by suing the government for harassment.
November 11, 2013
Arab Spring nations backtrack on women's rights
Arab women played a central role in the Arab Spring, but their hopes the revolts would bring greater freedom and expanded rights for women have been thwarted by entrenched patriarchal structures and the rise of Islamists, gender experts in the countries say.
November 6, 2013
How to include minorities and marginalized groups in constitution building
“Women do not represent women in my country. They represent the voices of the men, the families that surround them, and their political party: but not women.
September 18, 2013
Constitutional amendments 'fairer' to women: Council for Women, Egypt
Egypt's National Council for Women (NCW) said in a statement issued Wednesday that new amendments under-discussion to the currently suspended 2012 constitution are "fairer" to women.
July 18, 2013
Egyptian Wants More Women in Politics
Director of Appropriate Communication Techniques for Development (ACT) in Cairo, since 1990 Kamel has prepared Egyptian women to run for political office while advocating laws that uphold women's rights and criminalize domestic violence.
July 16, 2013
Sexual violence aims to drive women out of Egyptian politics
Violence against female protesters was a terrifying hallmark of the unrest that led to the fall of the Morsi government. Local NGOs documente more than 100 reports of sexual violence, including rape, between June 30 and July 3, the day of the “coup-volution” which ousted Morsi.
July 9, 2013
Acting Head of UN Women Lakshmi Puri calls for Egyptian women’s voices to be heard without threat of violence
Egypt’s women have been at the heart of the vibrant civil society movement that continues to press for the rights of all Egyptians.
April 4, 2013
EGYPT: Women in Post- Revolutionary Egypt Must be Free from Fear of Sexual Violence – UN Envoy
A United Nations envoy today expressed dismay at the sexual attacks on women protesters in Egy
April 4, 2013
Shura reverses placement of women at top of party lists, Egypt
Shura Council members voted down legislation requiring political parties to display female candidates at the top of party lists.
March 28, 2013
Study: 85% of women do not feel a political party represents them, Egypt
A study conducted by market research company TNS shows that from a sample of 500 women from different social classes, 84% feel less secure financially after t
February 14, 2013
Egypt: Egyptian women seek broader political role
Human rights activists and civil society organisations continue to seek stronger political representation for Egyptian women in parliament, ahead of elections for the lower house of the legislative authority this year.
January 24, 2013
Egypt: Women’s groups troubled by draft elections law
The National Front for Egypt’s Women announced its rejection of the draft elections law on Sunday, which does not guarantee any representation for women.
May 30, 2012
Female Judge Appointments Stir Controversy
In Egypt, a number of women was appointed to the national courts by the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), the country's highest legal authority. Although a number of prominent judicial figures have spoken out against the decision, rights activists and SJC officials praised the move.
May 30, 2012
Egypt Women Blame Selves For Harassment Says Report
Egyptian women are no strangers to sexual harassment. A recent report published in coordination with the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights (ECWR) claims 75 percent of women in the country regularly experience unwanted sexual attention from males.
May 30, 2012
Egypt: Women of the Muslim Brotherhood Rebel
A group of women from the movement has appealed for the right to run for office as members of the movement's council, "to resolve the internal problems of the organisation, play a more important role and participate in political life so that they can be elected to the general leadership".
May 30, 2012
Egypt: Egypt’s International Economic Forum Hosts Discussion on Women Leadership
The discussion tackled a number of important topics related to Egyptian women. According to Hosna Rachid, the Egyptian woman is currently trying to prove herself in all fields, but is facing many obstacles and so should stand her ground.
May 30, 2012
Egypt: Sisters Speak Out in Egypt's Brotherhood
The Muslim Brotherhood’s first women’s division, the Muslim Sisters Group, was created in 1932.
May 30, 2012
Egypt: Family Affairs
Parliament contemplates an overhaul of the 89-year-old Personal Status Law regulating marriage, divorce and child custody issues.
To read the full article please visit the Egypt Today website.