In Egypt, social networks fight against violence against women

Egyptian women are often victims of daily harassment in the streets.

© RFI / J.

The rat

Text by: Alexandre Buccianti

2 min

In Egypt, social networks have become a tool in the fight against domestic violence, whether against women or children.

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From our correspondent in Cairo

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In 2020, social networks seize on unreported facts that occurred in 2014: a meeting rape in a large hotel in Cairo.

They highlight the existence of sexual harassment and the fact that the overwhelming majority of women suffer or have at least suffered verbal abuse. 

The networks then tackled domestic violence.

Misdemeanors and sometimes crimes of which the victims are women and children.

Photos or videos of swollen faces force the police to intervene, even without a direct complaint.

An active fight against domestic violence or violence against women

Sites are created on the Internet and pages on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok by associations of defenders of the rights of women and children.

We explain with videos the different types of attacks as well as the legislation allowing the prosecution of predators.

Some even provide psychological or legal support to victims.

As a result, many perpetrators have been prosecuted or arrested because the tongues have started to loosen.

Women, neighbors or simple witnesses of violence no longer hesitate to file a complaint.

The excuse that the man corrected his wife or the parents educated their children is no longer admissible.

The laxity of the authorities undermined on social networks

A legal arsenal has been developed against domestic violence.

It started with the laws against sexual harassment.

Initially, they tackled the most violent forms of harassment and gradually became interested in all forms, including verbal assault.

Legislation which provided for penalties for men beating their wives or parents beating their children saw tougher penalties.

But, more importantly, under the pressure of social networks, official organizations for the defense of the family and children have been created.

Organizations that wage war on a certain laxity of the authorities who sometimes turned a blind eye when the violence did not lead to hospitalization.

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