This report is based on the discussions and findings of the Taskforce on Gender mainstreaming organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The views expressed in the report are those of the members of the Taskforce and do not necessarily reflect those of JICA. No part of this report may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of JICA. Published 2005 in JAPAN by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Department of Planning and Coordination Shinjuku Maynds Tower Bldg. 10F, 2-1-1 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, TOKYO 151-8558 Tel: 03-5352-5506 Fax: 03-5352-5490 E-mail: [email protected] Preamble JICA prepared a guideline for “Gender Mainstreaming/WID” in 2002 in which JICA’s basic policy for gender mainstreaming was fixed. Based on the policy, JICA has been fostering various activities related to gender equality. There are more than 150 countries where JICA’s projects are implemented, out of which, one third belongs to Islamic culture. While JICA’s efforts for gender mainstreaming proceed, we receive enquiries on how to approach gender equality in Islamic countries. In addition, it has been pointed out by gender experts that, as the situation in a country is not always identical, the socio-cultural conditions in the target areas should be well analyzed and that such analysis should not be based only on the national statistics. Based on the above grounds, JICA has decided to conduct a research on gender mainstreaming approaches which can be employed in the diverse socio-cultural context such as ethnic group and religion. For that purpose, Egypt was selected as a case, as Egypt belongs to the sphere of Islamic culture and, at the same time, has good diversity in socio-cultural context. The motive of this research is to learn how to best meet the different needs of men and women in the target areas while giving sufficient considerations to the diverse socio-cultural situations. This study turned out to be a good case to show a framework of similar research, such as survey items, structure of the report, and points of view for integrating gender. Using these research results, it is expected that other countries conduct the same type of research and review the best way for gender mainstreaming which is tailored to the local contexts. Finally, I would like to express my special appreciation to Ms. Osawa, a chairperson of JICA’s Advisory Committee for Gender and Development, and other Committee members, for their efforts to finalize this report. Also, I feel grateful for other persons who participated in the course of discussions for the research and give valuable information. 22 March, 2005 Masashi Mizukami Director General Planning and Coordination Department Japan International Cooperation Agency i Study on Gender and Socio-cultural Diversity — Case Study in EGYPT — Contents Preamble······················································································································································· i Abbreviation ················································································································································· vii List of Advisory Committee and Taskforce Members ············································································· ix Prologue······················································································································································ 1 Introduction················································································································································ 3 Chapter 1 Gender Profile in Egypt 1-1 Country Profile ····························································································································· 7 1-1-1 Demographic Indicators··································································································· 7 1-1-2 Recent History of Egypt and Trend of Women’s Movement········································ 8 1-2 Gender Profile in Egypt··············································································································· 15 1-2-1 Efforts by Government of Egypt toward Gender Equality············································ 15 (1) National Machinery··································································································· 15 (2) National Policy on Gender Issues············································································ 15 (3) Efforts on Gender Issues by the Line Ministries ··················································· 17 (4) Remarks······················································································································17 1-2-2 Gender and Law ················································································································ 17 (1) Gender and Legislative Issues ················································································· 17 (2) Perceptions on Gender and Legislative Issues······················································· 18 (3) Women’s Participation in Decision-making ···························································· 20 (4) Remarks······················································································································20 1-2-3 Gender and Economy ······································································································· 21 (1) Economic Indicators·································································································· 21 (2) Perceptions on Economic Activities and Gender ··················································· 22 (3) Gender and Agriculture ···························································································· 28 (4) Gender and Poverty··································································································· 30 (5) Remarks······················································································································32 1-2-4 Gender and Education······································································································ 32 (1) Educational Indicators ······························································································ 32 (2) National Policy on Education ··················································································· 32 (3) Gender Gap at the National Level············································································ 33 (4) Regional Disparities··································································································· 35 (5) Vocational / Technical Training and Advanced Education··································· 36 (6) Perceptions on Gender and Education···································································· 36 (7) Remarks······················································································································39 iii 1-2-5 Gender and Communication···························································································· 40 (1) Indicators of the Use of Communication Technology ··········································· 40 (2) Perceptions on Gender and Communication·························································· 40 (3) Women’s Freedom of Movement············································································· 44 (4) Remarks······················································································································44 1-2-6 Gender and Health············································································································ 45 (1) Health Indicators ······································································································· 45 (2) National Policy on Health ························································································· 48 (3) Perceptions on Family Planning ·············································································· 49 (4) FGM ···························································································································· 50 (5) Remarks······················································································································52 1-2-7 Violence against Women·································································································· 53 (1) Reality of Violence against Women ········································································· 53 (2) Perceptions on Violence against Women································································ 53 (3) Remarks······················································································································56 1-3 Findings of the Mission to Egypt ······························································································· 56 1-3-1 Efforts on Gender Equality by Various Organizations·················································· 56 (1) International Organizations ······················································································ 56 (2) Bilateral Aid Agencies ······························································································· 57 (3) NGOs ·························································································································· 58 1-3-2 Opinions of Religious