Cairo emerges riskiest megacity for women

Cairo was named on Monday as the most dangerous megacity for women by an international Media poll.

Women’s rights experts said that the treatment of women in the Egyptian capital has worsened since a 2011 uprising seeking social change.

Cairo came out worst when the Media asked experts on women’s issues in 19 megacities how well women are protected from sexual violence, harmful cultural practices and about access to healthcare and finance.

Women’s rights campaigners and commentators said women in Cairo faced daily harassment while a weakened economy and high unemployment since the uprising had eroded economic opportunities for women and seen health services deteriorate.

“The economy has become so bad in the last two, three years that we are suffering a setback in the thinking that women’s issues are not a priority,” said Omaima Abou-Bakr, co-founder of Women and Memory Forum, a non-government organisation set up to fight misconceptions of Arab women.