CAIRO, 8 March 2020: Egypt's Foreign Ministry asserted its support for gender equality, protection and enhancement of women's rights as well as their empowerment in all political, economic and social fields on the occasion of International Women's Day.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Hafez said women have played a vital role in the Egyptian diplomatic march over decades as they have been devoted in the service of the Egyptian flag and taking care of citizens' interests abroad, according to the state news agency, MENA.
Hafez highlighted the notable increase in the number of women diplomats over the past years, adding that many of them have assumed the presidency of Egyptian diplomatic missions abroad along with holding the positions of assistant foreign ministers and other top positions at the Foreign Ministry.
Meanwhile, the spokesman asserted that the Egyptian foreign policy has placed women's issues on top of its priorities at the regional and international levels as part of Cairo's efforts to achieve gender equality and activate various human rights for women and girls and reveal the violations they are subject to.
He also pointed out to Egyptian efforts and initiatives, as part of the UN system, to achieve a notable increase in the number of women composing the UN peacekeeping missions.
He also counted the steps taken by Egypt in the field of supporting women, peace and security agenda as well as facing the phenomenon of sexual violence during armed conflicts, in addition to other issues such as women and girls trafficking and sexual abuse and promoting the women status in the fields of health, education, work and others.
Sun, Mar. 8, 2020
