Worst country in the Middle East for Women: Egypt

Egypt is now the worst country for women’s rights in the Arab world, according to a poll of gender experts. The study found sexual harassment, high rates of female genital mutilation and a growth in conservative Islamist groups contributed to the low ranking.

Discriminatory laws and a spike in trafficking contributed to Egypt’s place at the bottom of the ranking of 22 Arab states, the survey said.

“There are whole villages on the outskirts of Cairo and elsewhere where the bulk of economic activity is based on trafficking in women and forced marriages”. However, sexual harassment was cited as the main factor.

A UN report in April said 99.3% of women and girls in Egypt had been subjected to sexual harassment. “The social acceptability of everyday sexual harassment affects every woman in Egypt regardless of age, professional or socio-economic background, marriage status, dress or behavior.”

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24908109