Yesterday, Sunday, February 20, 2022, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) and the Center for Egyptian Women's Affairs (CEWLA) obtained a ruling from the Mansoura Economic Court of Appeal in case No.
Files: Sexual Violence
The undersigned human rights organizations denounce the ruling on 11 January by the Egyptian Court of Cassation upholding the imprisonment of human rights defender Amal Fathy with a one-year prison sentence including time served, in case no.
EIPR called on the Court of Cassation to promptly set a hearing for the criminal case appeal No.
On Sunday, October 30th, the Mansoura Economic Misdemeanors Court ruled in the case of defamation and threats to the victim in an incident of mob sexual assault in the city of Meet Ghamr, which took place in December 2020.
The seven human rights and feminist organizations who have signed this statement regret the decision of the Public Prosecution, announced late in the evening of Tuesday the 11th of May 2021, to close investigations related to the gang rape whi
EIPR hopes that the prosecution’s decision not to proceed with the referral of Menna Abdel Aziz to trial is a precedent that will be generalized to the rest of sexual violence cases, through the prosecution’s use of its inherent right to suspend investigations or counter-reports that the victim of sexual violence may face once they report the incidents of abuse.
EIPR had previously and repeatedly warned that the precedent of accusations being brought against a victim and survivor of rape and kidnapping sends a clear message to women and girls that reporting sexual assaults they are subjected to, may end up in them being charged as accused and lead them to prison, hindering any community efforts seeking to support women and girls in their quest to recover from the aftermath of sexual violence crimes that they may be exposed to.
EIPR calls upon the Public Prosecution again to use its authority, and to take the decision best suited for the safety of the victim, Menna Abdel Aziz (Aya), to drop all charges against her and release her immediately, so that she can begin recovering from the psychological and physical effects of the attacks that she was subjected to at the hands of the accused.
The Prisons’ Authority forced al-Helw to undergo a full external physical examination and inspection of her genitals, conducted by doctors at a general hospital, against her will and without medical grounds, which constitutes a clear assault on her bodily and psychological safety.
