Ahmed Salem
Counselor Amal Ammar, President of the National Council for Women, received today Mrs. Graça Machel, President of the Community Development Foundation and the “Gerça Machel” Fund, and her accompanying delegation, at the Council’s headquarters.
This was in the presence of Ambassador Wafaa Basim, a member of the council, Professor Suhair Abdel Qader, head of the “Our Children” Foundation, Professor Sherwit Ibrahim, Director General of the General Administration for International Cooperation and International Agreements, Professor Asmaa Baghdadi, Director General of the Technical Office of the Head of the Council, and Professor Alaa Al-Shaer from the Technical Office.
Advisor Amal Ammar began the meeting by welcoming Graça Machel and her accompanying delegation, stressing that the visit represents an important opportunity to enhance cooperation and exchange experiences in the areas of women’s empowerment, which supports development efforts in the African continent.
The Egyptian state's efforts in empowering women
The head of the council reviewed the Egyptian state’s efforts in empowering women, stressing that Egyptian women are living in a golden age thanks to the unprecedented support provided by the political leadership.
She also reviewed the Council’s efforts in implementing the National Strategy for Empowering Egyptian Women 2030, noting that economic empowerment is at the forefront of the Council’s priorities as it is the basic entry point for achieving comprehensive empowerment.
For her part, Graça Machel, head of the Community Development Foundation and the Graça Machel Fund, praised President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s interest in empowering Egyptian women, stressing that the progress women have made and their access to decision-making positions reflects a genuine political will.
The role of the National Council for Women
She also praised the role played by the National Council for Women, stressing the importance of benefiting from its pioneering experience and transferring its expertise to African countries, especially in the field of economic empowerment.
“Machel” expressed her desire to strengthen cooperation with the council and benefit from Egyptian expertise in the areas of economic empowerment and women’s support, in order to contribute to transferring the successful Egyptian experience to African countries.
The meeting witnessed discussions on ways to enhance cooperation between the two sides, and the exchange of experiences in the areas of economic empowerment, supporting girls, and achieving sustainable development in the African continent.
Following the meeting, Graça Machel toured the Women’s Skills Development Center exhibition and praised the quality of the handmade and craft products produced by the women. She also visited the Women’s Complaints Office and learned about the legal, social and psychological services it provides to women. She concluded her tour by visiting the Council’s library and learning about its most prominent publications.
