According to a study made by UN Women in 2013, 99.3 percent of Egyptian girls and women have reported that they have experienced some form of sexual harassment in their lifetime. Unfortunately for the longest time, sexual harassment survivors could not receive the support needed nor could they safely report their harassment.
In light of the spark of recent events, Egypt is slowly paving its path to being a more safe environment for victims to assist them with psychological help, legal assistance, and initiatives for social cohesion.
Legal Assistance and Resources for Women Who Have Been Victims of Sexual Harassment:
1. National Council for Women (NCW)
Led by Maya Morsi, the NCW is a government-led organization that provides women with the appropriate counseling while protecting their legal rights. Access to the Women’s Complaints Office can be done through their hotline 15115, their Whatsapp number 01007525600, or their email at complain.office.2001@gmail.com.
2. Association of Egyptian Female Lawyers (AEFL)
AEFL is an NGO led by chairperson Mrs. Rabha Fathy which works at upholding justice and equality for women in Egypt by activating their political participation fervor and supporting them legally by providing them with female lawyers through the Lawyers Syndicate.
3. Center for Egyptian Women Legal Assistance (CEWLA Foundation)
CEWLA is a leading lawyers group led by Egyptian women lawyers that were founded in 1995. CEWLA offers legal advice to women through phone call numbers found on their Facebook page.
Mental Health Assistance and Resources for Women Subjected to all Forms of Sexual Harassment:
1. Serenity Psychology Center – Maadi
Serenity Psychology Center is offering free therapy sessions for students who have been subjected to sexual assault, rape, and harassment. The survivors’ identity is to remain confidential throughout the sessions. They can be reached through this number: 01205300800
2. Inside Out Counseling Center – Madinet Nasr
Inside Out offer free counseling sessions for all women victims of sexual harassment and assault. They can be reached through 01228143666.
3. The Wellness Hub – Heliopolis
This center offers online available services for victims of abuse, assault, and harassment. They can be reached through 01019666330.
Diab is a psychologist who has offered free-of-charge counseling for sexual assault survivors. Diab can be reached through her personal accounts on Facebook or Instagram: @aminadiab.
Platforms and Initiatives to Help Sexual Assault and Harassment Survivors:
1. HarassMap
HarassMap is a volunteer-based initiative founded in 2010 that aims to foster an environment safe for women in Egypt and uphold the intolerance towards sexual harassment. HarassMap also provides legal assistance by providing lawyers and urging institutions for harassment reporting.
2. Lilac – @lilacisreal
Lilac is a mental health awareness platform that aims at providing aid and help for anyone struggling with mental health. Lilac aims at providing a safe space for victims of all kinds and can be found on Facebook and Instagram.
3. Cat Calls of Cairo – @catcallsofcairo
Cat Calls of Cairo is a platform aimed at educating people about imperative topics and aims at helping young adults at sharing their street harassment stories. It is available on Facebook and Instagram as a safe space.
Harassment is never the victims’ fault and seeking help should never be connotated with shameful culture. Report it, speak it, and heal from it.
