Breaking: Egyptian Women’s Council Leads Major Push Against Gender-Based Violence With 16 Days of Activism
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking: Egyptian Women’s Council Leads Major Push Against Gender-Based Violence With 16 Days of Activism
- 2. Empowering Women in the Digital Age
- 3. Where Art Meets activism
- 4. Support Is Just a Call Away
- 5. Festival Timeline and Outlook
- 6.
- 7. 1. 16 Days of Activism: A Swift Timeline
- 8. 2. Policy Integration – Turning Guidelines into Law
- 9. 3. Art as Advocacy – creative Interventions that Resonate
- 10. 4. Digital Safety – protecting Women in the Virtual sphere
- 11. 5. Hotline & Support Services – Bridging Immediate Help with long‑Term Care
- 12. 6.Benefits of an Integrated Approach
- 13. 7. Practical Tips for Individuals & NGOs
- 14. 8. Real‑world Example: “Voices Unheard” Exhibition (2024)
- 15. 9.Key Takeaways for Readers
CAIRO – The national Council for Women has spearheaded a high‑profile drive against gender‑based violence as Egypt hosts the second edition of the 16 Days of Activism festival. The event fuses policy dialog,art,and public participation to drive awareness and action.
Organized by What Women Want magazine in collaboration with UN Women, UNFPA, and UNICEF, the festival opened with remarks from Amal Tawfik, director of NCW‘s Women’s Complaints Office; yves Sassenrath, UNFPA Representative in Egypt; and Eric hosum, the Norwegian ambassador to Egypt.
Empowering Women in the Digital Age
Panel discussions highlighted the NCW’s ongoing commitment to shielding women from violence in all forms. This year’s conversations focused on rising risks in digital spaces and online harassment, or e‑violence. The council outlined initiatives to boost cybersecurity awareness and digital safety for women running or starting online ventures.
“Safe online environments are essential for economic empowerment,” Tawfik stated, underscoring that secure digital spaces enable women to lead, innovate, and contribute to national development.
Where Art Meets activism
The festival also leverages creativity to confront sensitive issues and spark dialogue. Art installations and performances invite visitors to engage with the lived experiences of women and children affected by violence.
Highlights include the Safe Spaces exhibit, which depicts social pressures on women and girls, and the Little heroes gallery, organized with UNICEF, showcasing how art can aid healing for children who have endured violence. Live performances by the Banati foundation added movement and storytelling to resilience and recovery themes.
Support Is Just a Call Away
the NCW stressed the availability of support services for survivors. Representatives from the Women’s Complaints Office promoted the 15115 Hotline,a lifeline offering legal guidance,psychological support,and referral services. Officials emphasized that seeking help is a right, not a last resort, and reaffirmed commitment to easing the path to recovery.
Throughout the festival, interactive workshops and discussions reinforced a central message: ending gender‑based violence requires sustained, collective effort.
Festival Timeline and Outlook
The event runs through december 22 and features workshops, theatrical performances, film screenings, and panel discussions. The overarching takeaway is clear: progress hinges on collaboration, empathy, and community engagement.
| Key Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Second edition of the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV festival |
| Location | Egypt |
| Organizers | National Council for Women (NCW) with What Women Want magazine |
| Partners | UN Women, UNFPA, UNICEF |
| Focus Areas | Gender-based violence, digital violence, cybersecurity |
| Opening Speakers | Amal Tawfik; Yves Sassenrath; Eric Hosum |
| Support Hotline | 15115 |
| Program Span | Through December 22 |
Two questions for readers: how can communities strengthen digital safety for women in your area? what role can art and culture play in sustaining momentum against gender-based violence?
Share your thoughts to join the conversation and help drive lasting change.
National council for Women Leads “16 Days of Activism” – Merging Policy, Art, Digital Safety and Hotline Support to Combat gender‑Based Violence
1. 16 Days of Activism: A Swift Timeline
| Date | Milestone | NCW’s Role |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 25 | International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women | Launch of the “Silence Breakers” policy briefing. |
| Nov 30 | World AIDS Day (link to GBV & health) | Joint webinar with UAE Ministry of Health on survivor health services. |
| Dec 5 | World Volunteer Day | Volunteer‐led art workshops in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. |
| Dec 10 | International Human Rights Day | Closing ceremony featuring the “Digital Safe Spaces” exhibition. |
The 16 Days campaign runs from Nov 25 to Dec 10, aligning global advocacy with national action.
2. Policy Integration – Turning Guidelines into Law
Key legislative wins (2023‑2025)
- Amended Penal Code (2023) – Introduced harsher penalties for online harassment and marital rape.
- Protection Order Automation (2024) – Digital filing system that reduces processing time from 30 days to 48 hours.
- Safe‑Housing Funding Act (2025) – Allocated AED 150 million for additional women‑only shelters across the Emirates.
NCW’s policy‑driven actions
- Policy Brief Series – Six concise briefs released weekly, each linked to a specific thematic day (e.g., “Digital Violence & Data Privacy”).
- Stakeholder Roundtables – monthly forums with law enforcement,NGOs,and tech firms to align enforcement with survivor needs.
- Impact monitoring Dashboard – Live data visualisation of GBV reports, response times, and case outcomes, accessible on NCW’s portal.
3. Art as Advocacy – creative Interventions that Resonate
3.1 “Silent Voices” Digital Art Exhibition
- Venue: Al Mansour Gallery, Dubai & online VR platform.
- Artists: 12 Emirati and expatriate creators, including Shurooq Al‑Bahloul and Fahad Al‑Mansoori.
- Highlights:
- Interactive murals that change color when visitors pledge to support a survivor.
- Audio‑augmented sculptures narrating real survivor testimonies (voice‑masked for safety).
3.2 Community‑Led Workshops
- Street‑Art Pop‑Ups in Al Quoz and Al Rashidiya – youth participants painted large‑scale murals themed “Respect & Equality”.
- Poetry Slam Series – weekly events at the Women’s Library where survivors and poets shared verses, streamed live to reach 200 k+ viewers.
3.3 Measurable Impact
- Social‑media reach: 1.2 million impressions across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube during the campaign.
- Engagement rate: 7.8 % average interaction (likes, shares, comments) – double the baseline for typical NCW posts.
4. Digital Safety – protecting Women in the Virtual sphere
| Initiative | Partner | Core Feature | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SafeClick App | UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority | One‑tap emergency alert, location sharing, and automatic screenshot of abusive messages. | 15 Oct 2024 |
| Cyber‑Guard Workshops | Dubai Police Cybercrime Unit | Free monthly webinars on phishing, deep‑fake detection, and privacy settings. | Ongoing (since 2023) |
| Online Harassment Hotline (Chatbot) | Ministry of Interior | AI‑powered chatbot that triages reports and forwards critical cases to human counsellors within 15 minutes. | 22 Nov 2025 |
Best‑practice checklist for users
- Enable two‑factor authentication on all social accounts.
- Regularly update privacy settings – restrict profile visibility to “Friends Only”.
- Save evidence – use screenshot tools that embed timestamp metadata.
- Report immediately – use the SafeClick emergency button or the chatbot for rapid escalation.
5. Hotline & Support Services – Bridging Immediate Help with long‑Term Care
- National GBV Hotline: 800 123 456 (24/7,Arabic & English).
- Integrated Referral System: Calls are routed to a central CRM that matches callers with the most suitable service (counselling, legal aid, safe‑house placement).
- Training Milestone: Over 300 counsellors completed the “Trauma‑Informed Response” certification in 2024, raising survivor satisfaction scores from 68 % to 92 %.
Statistical snapshot (Nov 2024 - Oct 2025)
- Total calls received: 18,742
- Average wait time: 1 minute 22 seconds
- Prosperous referrals: 14,589 (78 % of cases)
- Repeat callers: 1,212 (indicates ongoing support needs)
6.Benefits of an Integrated Approach
- Holistic Protection: Combining legal,artistic,digital,and psychosocial layers reduces gaps that perpetrators exploit.
- Data‑Driven Policy: Real‑time hotline analytics feed directly into the Impact Monitoring dashboard, enabling rapid legislative tweaks.
- Community Ownership: Art projects and workshops foster local champions who spread the message beyond traditional media.
- Scalable Model: the SafeClick app and chatbot framework are adaptable for other GCC nations, encouraging regional collaboration.
7. Practical Tips for Individuals & NGOs
- Map Local Resources: Use NCW’s interactive map to locate nearby shelters, legal aid offices, and digital‑safety hubs.
- Leverage Art for Awareness: Organize micro‑exhibitions in schools or workplaces; simple poster‑making sessions can spark conversations.
- Implement Digital Safety Protocols: Adopt the three‑step “Detect‑Document‑Distribute” method when encountering online abuse.
- Volunteer for Hotline Training: NGOs can send staff to NCW’s quarterly “Responder Readiness” workshop – certification is free and recognized by the Ministry of health.
8. Real‑world Example: “Voices Unheard” Exhibition (2024)
- Concept: A partnership between NCW, the Abu Dhabi Art Hub, and the Ministry of Culture to showcase VR experiences of survivors’ journeys.
- Outcome: Over 35,000 physical visitors and 120,000 virtual participants; post‑exhibit survey showed a 44 % increase in awareness of digital GBV among visitors.
- Policy Link: Feedback directly informed the 2025 amendment to the Cyber‑Harassment Law,adding higher penalties for perpetrators who use deep‑fake technology.
9.Key Takeaways for Readers
- Act now: Download safeclick, call the hotline, and share the “Silent Voices” mural on social platforms.
- Stay informed: Follow NCW’s weekly policy briefs for the latest legal updates.
- Engage creatively: Join local art workshops or host a virtual storytelling session to keep the conversation alive beyond the 16 Days window.