201 quotes found
"My vision is to develop a community of young African fashion designers and artists in order to catalyze a movement whose reach extends far beyond just fashion or art. But to create a culture shift and be the voice of the voiceless in their communities,“"
"“Fashion industry has already got enough flakes for being superficial. Let’s change this perception and create a meaningful fashion trend aiming to educate our communities"
". I love fashion and I strongly believe that designs can make Men and Women proud to wear to show their contribution toward their communities, villages, cities, across Africa ”"
""I will pay more attention to helping and supporting new fashion designers and talented artists in Africa to start their lines and professional journey in their countries, at the same time I am committing to raising awareness to correct misconceptions and wrong habits through their work and designs."
"Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation in an exclusive cover interview with The Nation Magazine from Rwanda. ( November 2021) by Merck Foundation retrieved 26 July 2022."
"Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation in an exclusive cover interview with The Nation Magazine from Rwanda. ( November 2021) by Merck Foundation"
"Hikmat recalled Ms. Ihsan al-Qousi, as well as Ms. Nazla al-Hakim, who cared a lot about her students, both personally and academically, and was keen to listen to their complaints, and to encourage them to give their opinions."
"Hikmat recalled that she travelled to the distant villages and precincts to revive the spirit of national resistance and perseverance. She devoted her articles in al-Gomhouria Newspaper to raise political awareness, and spread the national spirit by discussing models and representations from Egyptian history."
"Hikmat recounted that although Ms. Nazla was against her involvement in the demonstrations, and even suspended her as a result, Ms. Nazla sent a letter to the League of Nations, on Hikmat’s behalf, protesting against the brutal treatment of the demonstrating citizens."
"I now cherish the ability to be surprised by things that come up unexpectedly, by beautiful things and new perspectives that emerge out of the blue, even in the most conventional and repetitive settings. The ability to be surprised surprises me."
"think it is very hard to imagine what your driving forces are and often one has to ask again and again, what’s the point of doing this, what’s the point of doing this, what’s the point of doing this."
"often feel like, because of the situation we are in, there is no point in doing this. But I think there is also just joy, in finding that things come together, the joy of writing, even though I really find writing gruesome."
"But there is something beautiful in the ability to create and I think that is the driving force, it is an attempt to create, to build, to be a witness, to tell stories when everything else doesn’t make sense and you know that your possibility to change things on the ground is not so high."
"If your work is about trauma and repression, it’s hard to be hopeful."
"a lot of our experience of the world but sometimes they take over too much and I think maybe there is something else to be explored, something more than defeat."
"This strict code of conduct has its roots in the patriarchal culture…of the country,and exerts enormous influence on society. So, the mindset of patriarchy is still there,”"
"We need women to have self-confidence that they can change, that this is the revolution we need and this is the revolution we deserve."
"There remains a huge gap between the vision and reality. Why? Because the big debate is how to blend Islamic politics and respect for women’s rights,”"
"Promoting women’s rights because it will spur development and economic growth is a powerful way for the United States to advance its foreign policy in the future."
"An increase in average female education by just three years can lower fertility rates and increase female support of political change and ability to be independent."
"Though current legislation is more favorable to women than ever before in Egypt."
". Remembering that what women need… is a voice and a job"
"All talk to democracy is bulls— without equality with men…when will the bomb of Arab woman explode? I’m speaking here of her ability, her ambition, her liberty, strength and rights."
"It is important to take into account that this kind of enterprises is often run by one person or one family, which could enfeeble the enterprise's financial position."
"The law gives as well more financial and non-financial incentives, which targets the companies and institutions that support these enterprises. In addition, it adopts simplified bases for taxes imposed on these enterprises and develops mechanisms to put these incentives in action."
"Under the law, the enterprise premises shall be temporarily allocated to the funding institution, thereby securing its fund recovery rights according to the risks it shoulders."
"The law has put into effect a stimulating mechanism that will enable enterprises operating in the informal sector to engage in the formal economy. Such a mechanism will allow them to obtain a temporary licence for a period up to five years until their conditions have been reconciled. They will similarly be entitled to a package of financial and non-financial incentives in the same period."
"The law sets that informal enterprises applying to formalise will be exempt from the stamp duty and registration fees for five years. It also states a unified custom duty of two percent of imported machines and equipment and that capital gains resulting from assets and production equipment will be exempt from taxes with conditions."
"The law encompasses six major pillars. It gives a consolidated definition for MSMEs. A serious problem the MSMEs sector was facing in Egypt is having more than one definition for these enterprises. This has resulted in widescale confusion that negatively affected the sector."
"We are beginning a new era. If there hadn’t been a revolution, I would never have run in the presidential elections.""
"I think it’s good to talk about everything. It’s not good to try to cover the truth,"
"I may be a woman, but women’s rights are not my only focus. I want the rights of all Egyptians."
"we did it through the revolution and we’re doing it again by telling the whole world that Egypt, like every other country, has a real chance for change."
"It was very difficult [to talk about gender equality] because we were in a corrupt political system,"
"And she’s not alone in that fight. It might look like quite a few people are interested in seeing her fail, but there are also many who want her to succeed."
"We have to be alert because it’s possible that there will be danger. The important thing is to know that this stage is not easy and that we are still in the beginning.”"
"We have definitely seen marked improvements in the status of women. These improvements are driven by the diligent efforts exerted by women- led movements."
"Egyptian women already have gained the right to travel without their husband’s prior consent, and the right to pass down their nationality to children born to foreign fathers."
"Women’s rights have been secured constitutionally, with many constitutional terms, translated into legal clauses while others remain in the pipes. There are several measurable examples that echo the ongoing progress of women in Egypt by law."
"We still need to change the cultural practices that constitute violence against women and the best way to achieve this is by putting more women on the decision- making level, be it at the governmental or the parliamentary."
"To empower women, we should ensure that all young girls receive their education. The benefits of this education will trickle down not only to their families but nationwide as well."
"There are still women and girls who are denied their right to education even though the government provides free basic education, but some parents deprive their daughters of that right."
"Offering females quality education and putting in place techniques for active life-long learning, while giving them the space to express themselves and air their grievances, as well as access to support removing any obstacles in their way for development, are badly needed."
"You can do it just have self- confidence and work hard. Women are multitaskers. They are soldiers and if they believe in what they are doing they will succeed…so believe in God, build friends and alliances, do not make enemies"
"Women will be fully empowered and gender equality will prevail when we explain to everyone in the society that they stand to benefit."
"My diligent efforts were rewarded when I was decorated with the ‘Order of Good Hope’."
"some people doubt women’s capabilities simply because they are women, so you have to double your efforts to get what you are entitled for."
"There are several measurable examples that echo the ongoing progress of women in Egypt by law: more than 12 years ago Egyptian women already have gained the right to travel without their husband’s prior consent, and the right to pass down their nationality to children born to foreign fathers."
"It is through enabling the private sector that it will be possible to achieve this level of reach in terms of both job creation and broad economic impact."
"Given that the education system globally is constantly changing, this requires inclusive learning, and agile leadership for swift responses to remote learning and a digital-first curriculum, both requiring the engagement of the private sector."
"As the global economy is becoming increasingly knowledge-based, today, education and skills are more important than ever in securing a country’s future because investments in education provide a catalyst for economic growth, job creation, and increased social mobility, especially when it comes to supporting youth in vulnerable communities."
"We need to focus on education. The future of any country is heavily reliant on the output of its education system and what youth have learned to bring to the workforce."
"The reality is, in today's global environment, no country will be able to achieve long-term economic growth and development whilst neglecting the climate crisis:"
"Ultimately, upskilling is essential for young people to effectively contribute to addressing global challenges, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to drive innovation, create sustainable solutions, and make a positive impact in the world."
"Entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as access to technology, lie at the heart of public-private-youth partnerships, as this is a clear path to creating impactful progress, and brings creative and new ideas to the table. That’s how one can advance anything, be it on a small scale within a company or on a larger scale in terms of the economy."
"Gender equality and climate action are two pillars that have been adopted as cross-cutting priorities that will be mainstreamed across all Shabab Balad activities. This is a key priority for many of the rising entrepreneurs in the country and us."
"To recover, a key driver in our economy is the private sector. Enabling the private sector to grow and increase public-private partnerships in development projects, as well as creating a suitable environment for entrepreneurs and innovators to thrive and grow, is of high priority to the government, as this reflects positively on the economy."
"Women must be a key partner in preventing the propagation of offensive stereotypes and views."
"Few women believe that they will be able to reach whatever position they want, regardless of their abilities."
"All in all, there were more than 1,700 scenes that were clearly offensive to women, including some that incited violence against women."
"Girls are more aware of their rights and have the courage to submit complaints against harassers to the police."
"I believe selections, appointments and promotions should be on merit, delivery, achievements, performance and results on the ground. It’s your own merit and your hard work that you should be judged and assessed on. Nothing else."
"The issue is achieving not because you are a woman, but because you are working hard."
"I honestly believe that when you are working hard, you are committed to what you do, and you set yourself targets of what you want to achieve, you will always deliver and succeed."
"And despite the fact that husbands and other members of the family such as brothers and fathers also carry part of the responsibilities, we cannot neglect the fact that there are also some social and cultural dynamics in Africa where this leans more on women."
"We can only achieve sustainable and inclusive growth through giving women an equal opportunity to play an active role in the economic, social and political sphere."
"Women have the right to play an active role in the labour market; we have to give women an equal opportunity to get the education, skills and the knowledge that will help them fully participate in the economic sphere."
"Women and girls must have equal access to education, skills development, the labour force, political participation and all social services if we really want to be inclusive."
"Inclusive growth also means that the economic reforms are packaged with adequate social safety nets and are built on reducing regional disparities, improving human development, protecting the poor and vulnerable, and providing access to finance for small and micro investors as well as women and youth."
"A key pillar for the economic reform is improving the business environment and promoting more private sector participation."
"Africans can work closely with international partners to bring best practices, know-how and resources to complement and support their important programmes. And, importantly, businesses need to cooperate."
"Driving Investment for Inclusive Growth”, which means investing in a way that is geared for the long term and to deliver solutions that will cater for the challenges of tomorrow."
"Inclusive growth means that there is no one left behind and that all segments in society reap the benefits of the economic growth. On the economic front it entails a level playing field, equal access to market, equal opportunity and a fair and competitive environment."
"To succeed, as Africans we need to tap into our huge domestic resources."
"The ministers are expected to present ideas and solutions during the session on how to bridge the gaps to achieve a successful outcome in Baku, and that the dialogue will contribute to increasing ambition and accelerating work to develop scenarios for more political participation."
"The multilateral system is under pressure to demonstrate its ability to achieve results at the required speed and scale, adding that COP29 will be a decisive test for the Paris Agreement and global climate action and cooperation on a large scale."
"It is expected that the parties will make significant progress towards this goal and will participate in developing the objective framework for a draft negotiating text that includes the progress achieved, stressing the need for progress on the technical and political tracks."
"Agreeing on a new, fair and ambitious collective quantitative target that takes into account the needs and priorities of developing countries is the first negotiating priority for the COP29."
"Egypt has made remarkable progress in implementing the goals of the global framework for biodiversity at the national level."
"In parallel, we have been taking steps to expand our use of modern methods of irrigation to maximise our efficient use of water."
"We are really working hard to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and we are also working on improving the efficiency of our energy usage."
"This is what we call the circular economy, in the sense that we turn organic waste into natural fertilisers and recycle all solid waste."
"We have also been well aware of the possibly devastating impacts of increased levels of seawater leakage onto agricultural land and have been adopting measures to stop this because we cannot afford to compromise our agricultural land. Maintaining agricultural land is part of the global work to reduce global warming."
"Challenge the definition of entrepreneurship and look at the well being of people around us. Social entrepreneurship is a transition phase. Examine the whole concept of business and profit: if it's not social, then it's bad business."
"On agriculture, too, we have been moving quite fast, with an ambitious scheme to coat irrigation canals to reduce the level of evaporation that comes with increases of temperature level"
"We are not in a position to allow the economy to slow down. We need to get the economy to grow, but we could make it grow in a green direction, and we can create green job opportunities,"
"During the past six, and since the country signed the Paris Agreement that came out of the 2015 Paris Conference on Climate Change, Egypt has been fully invested in measures to protect its shores from rising sea levels."
"It was impossible to underestimate the kind of concerns that Egypt has and that it is very important to stress the need for international support to face up to these as part of a wider commitment to working with the rest of the international community on reducing currently dangerous levels of global warming."
"Vulnerable children and children in conflict with the law are watched through community monitoring offices spreading across the country."
"My ministry strives to apply the project titled "Restorative approach to juvenile justice: socio-educative model of reintegration and alternative measures to detention", which is funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation."
"The project aims to enhance the living conditions of children and adolescents in conflict with the law through the application of the UN Child Rights Convention and the Egyptian Child Law."
"It also focuses on promoting the use of alternative measures to detention, diversion and restorative justice and the social/education reintegration programs for children who are held in care institutions."
"Justice for children is one of the Egyptian State's priorities, as part of its commitment to international charters and conventions, including the implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the goal 16 of Sustainable Development Goals on peace, justice, and strong institutions."
"The United States decided to use all its resources and tools to contain the situation and push it in a direction that promotes American and also Israeli interests."
"Egypt unlike other nations whose financial situations force them to seek lending subsidized by other governments around the world should not accept conditions dictated by the World Bank or the IMF."
"But the alleged perpetrators of these dark plots are not shadowy agents of the Central Intelligence Agency, MI6, or even Mossad, as one might suppose she’d say. No, they are by and large an idealistic band of young people from various countries who work for nongovernment organizations attempting to help Egypt build the civil institutions essential for the transition to a functioning democracy."
"The council will also focus on the issue of illiteracy, because we cannot promote the development and advancement of women while facing a 40 percent illiteracy rate in Egypt. We will also reconsider the services provided to women in regards to healthcare. Finally, we will draw attention to marginalized groups in the community, such as women in slums, older women and disabled women."
"The council has fought fiercely to prevent the adoption of the old constitution, and has made a strong effort to uphold perhaps one of the most important promises: to oppose the formation of a constitution that includes only one point of view. Because of that, the council nominated several women to participate in the formation of the constitution, but not to remove anything from it."
"The council announced its national vision on the country’s constitution, but that vision has been ignored and rejected. Therefore the council announced its rejection of the draft constitution based on human rights and freedom concerns, particularly regarding those of women and children in the family."
"The council is Egypt’s government mechanism for improving the condition of Egyptian women and defending their rights, regardless of political affiliation. We emphasize that these martyrs are in the hearts of all Egyptians, and they will not have shed their blood in vain. We will go to any length to protect their rights from the terrorists who condone killing innocent people to accomplish their goals. The council has continually provided them with a range of financial assistance to help them establish small, income-generating projects."
"We appreciate the position of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia and the positions of all of the Gulf States that have stood beside Egypt through its current crisis."
"The States Parties to those conventions have recently emphasized that they remain relevant and flexible in scope, permitting their use against new and emerging forms of illicit activities. As the guardian of the UNTOC and UNCAC, UNODC has a vital role to play in assisting States as they translate their commitments into actions."
"I have pledged to improve the representation of women at the staff levels where parity is not achieved, as a significant step towards meeting the goal of gender parity at all levels by the end of 2021. My aim is that we build and cultivate an enabling working environment which provides the same chances and opportunities to male and female staff."
"I am grateful that in Vienna I could rely on an experienced security team in addressing the many challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic over these past months. Their dedication has helped to keep our staff safe, and was recognized and appreciated by our host country. I count on UNDSS to further strengthen our UN security community here in Austria."
"Currently, just over a quarter of our security staff in Vienna are women, and we are working to improve the gender balance. There is an immense opportunity for women in security to become strong role models, especially at senior levels, accelerating progress towards a more gender diverse work force, attracting new female recruits, and putting in motion a virtuous circle – for the benefit of all."
"Egyptian people are much more successful than Israelis with doing scientific research and using their intelligences, however, we are not as lucky as Israelis in terms of financial circumstances."
"The budget will be reduced next year, after the majority of this year’s was returned unspent."
"To take advantage of scientific research in order to safeguard health and the environment in the slums, in addition to using sociological research to promote principles and ethics."
"The projects falling under the scope of the initiative will include collecting used cooking oil and converting it to diesel fuel, as well as helping to select technologies that produce products that can be easily marketed locally or exported. This can be achieved while preserving the environment and water resources, and entrenching new concepts about rationalizing the consumption of water and energy in its various forms."
"The initiative took advantage of social funds to provide financial support and services to support the development and growth in these areas, as well as helping to complete the required paperwork to carry out these activities."
"The first topic of focus for the initiative is women’s issues, namely working to educate women and spread awareness on health issues such as prevention and early detection of cancerous tumors — including breast cancer — in addition to treatment methods."
"That the initiative will address garbage, including the management of solid waste and how to protect humans, animals and the surrounding environment. It will also provide job opportunities for youths, and will coordinate with the Ministry of Scientific Research to develop ideas."
"The objective now is not to renegotiate our dreams, but to emphasize the accountability of all actors through detailed discussions of goals, targets, achievements and failures. We are no longer seeking promises, but are demanding action."
"The Beijing platform should no longer be viewed as a set of simple goals and aspirations, but must be used as a tool to push for the adoption of gender-sensitive policies."
"The majority of African women are still denied education and employment, and have limited opportunities in trade, industry and government."
"Gender disparities still exist. Such disparities undermine not only women's capacity to participate in and benefit from development, but also the effectiveness of development as a whole. This is the reason for the president's insistence that illiteracy must be eliminated within a short period of time."
"No revenge acts were taken during my mayorship."
"I want to make sure that all the legislation passed by the parliament treats women and men equally."
"I was honoured by this selection for years of hard work, but we should not forget the team behind this effort, my colleagues on the professional level, and my beloved family on the personal level."
"The key word for everything I have achieved throughout my life is family."
"Many people think that a strong woman is one who makes her own decisions alone, but that is not the case with me. My family is the source of my pride and power."
"A home that encourages you to read and believes in the importance of freedom of choice is an enlightened home that helps you be creative and influential. My husband and I have done the same with our beloved daughters."
"I soften when she sees my three grandchildren. I consider them my retirement gratuity; they are the true source of happiness in my life."
"Citizens now have a golden opportunity to reconcile their building violations, protect their properties, and contribute to the state’s rightful dues, which will ultimately be reinvested in service and development projects across all governorates."
"The ministry also offers scholarships, programs, and training courses abroad in key areas where skill enhancement is crucial, especially in sectors and specialised fields. These courses are organised in cooperation with several friendly countries, including European and Asian nations, notably China, to exchange expertise."
"The Local Development training Center in Saqqara will receive full support and attention in the coming period to address some shortcomings identified during her recent visit. New, urgent courses relevant to the ministry’s work will be added to the training plan, and the content and teaching methods of the courses will be updated, with collaboration from the National Training Academy, a leading training institution in Egypt."
"Since the new reconciliation law took effect in May, approximately 550,000 requests for reconciliation certificates have been submitted. The ministry continues to coordinate with all relevant ministries and authorities to ensure the smooth and efficient implementation of the new law for the benefit of citizens."
"There’s really no comparison to the Sadat era, in many ways it’s worse but in ways it’s also better. When we were imprisoned for our activism in the 70s, no one knew about it. There was no social media of course and no state media would cover such things."
"There is now a shift in tactics, since outright street protest have become dangerous and, she says, “almost suicidal.” There’s been a renewed emphasis on media exposure and grass roots activities like regular “I am an Egyptian citizen” events, where young people visit slums and villages and speak about human rights issues while painting walls, picking up garbage or fixing train signals."
"That’s what happens when a political force uses violence - like the Brotherhood. They did it in a way that marginalised the democratic opposition movements - they were against democracy and against the state. Sadat supported them as a foil to democratic opposition."
"The Islamist movement was and still is a red herring that deviates completely from the real struggle. Its ongoing violence, most recently felt by a string of bombs in Cairo and in the Sinai, also used justify repression."
"Egypt has an honourable history in the advocacy and defence of human rights, unlike some countries that always attack Egypt on its human rights record."
"The right to peace, justice and development is enshrined in the declaration’s preamble. Egypt has a solid record in the pursuit of these goals. It has struggled to realise ambitious developmental aims despite arduous circumstances and limited resources. Its war against terrorism helps protect the region and the world from this blight while the government has made more progress in development in recent years than previous governments had in 50 years."
"Unfortunately, the question of human rights is sometimes used as a propaganda tool. In this regard, Egypt has recently been the focus of another wave of criticism by parties driven by political, economic or personal agendas and whose attacks rely on unsubstantiated sources or plain fiction. As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the mother of human rights instruments, it seems worth making a calm and reasoned assessment of how Egypt truly fares in terms of its provisions."
"With respect to the right to life, liberty and security of person (Article 3), Egypt’s efforts to fight for peace and security through its fight against terrorism have received worldwide admiration and recognition. One of the government’s main responsibilities is to meet the people’s need for safety and security and it has met with considerable success in this domain."
"In Europe, too, racism — one of the worst human rights violations — is widespread. Related to this is the way European countries handle the problem of refugees. There, they are not even treated as human beings, in contrast to Egypt which, according to a report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, is one of the most humane countries in its treatment of refugees (see Article 14). Egypt does not pen up refugees in camps. They are welcome as ordinary members of society and enjoy the same rights and duties as others."
"I was met with resentment for being a woman. Yet I talked to them and reminded them of the prophet’s wives and families until they changed their opinions."
"I preferred to live as master of men, not their servant."
"Men claim they have superior intelligence, saying there have been more men of genius than women. They forget that only when people use their gifts do they develop. That is why poor men who have spent their lives as cooks or tailors have not excelled in the arts or sciences. How can we expect, therefore, to find women whose knowledge is confined to this sphere excelling as geniuses?"
"There was no religious prohibition of showing a woman's face, that Egyptian peasants do not cover their faces, and that the white transparent cloth barely covers the face."
"Since you men claim to be wiser and have better minds than women, then how come you are seduced by seeing their faces."
"To get my rights. I joined Huda Shaarawy’s association and other associations that were fighting for women’s rights. I was then only 21 but to no avail."
"I was the second Arab female ambassador after King Hassan’s sister. I was also not the first Egyptian ambassador to Europe; I was preceded by Hatshepsut, Nefertari and Nefertiti, those Egyptian queens who are well known in the world over."
"No more than secretaries toeing the line and being assigned tasks instead of acting like ministers capable of initiating policies."
"A ban on entering the judiciary based on gender goes against Section forty"
"I express my pleasure over Al Gebali’s appointment. It is like seeing the results of what I started."
"Egypt’s SWF aims to manage the state-owned assets which will be transferred to it. Its authorised capital is EGP 200bn and the issued capital is EGP 5bn. The SWF aims to fill Egypt’s financing gap and increase the participation of the private sector."
"The Government of Egypt has embarked on an ambitious reform agenda to achieve key strategic objectives for the country’s growth and development by 2030 and demonstrated a strong commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at the highest political level."
"The Egypt Fund (EF) is a perfect example of a practical modality for a public-private partnership that can be used to capitalize on the immense pool of resources and assets belonging to the state, and crowd in the private sector in the process."
"A number of Brotherhood leaders had verbally approached me to legalize the group's status through the new bill."
"They did not submit formal requests, fearing that the number of its members, sources of funding and unlawful objectives would be exposed."
"Life is very hard. The only people who really live are those who are harder than life itself"
"They said, “You are a savage and dangerous woman.”I am speaking the truth. And the truth is savage and dangerous."
"Yet not for a single moment did I have any doubts about my own integrity and honour as a woman. I knew that my profession had been invented by men, and that men were in control of both our worlds, the one on earth, and the one in heaven. That men force women to sell their bodies at a price, and that the lowest paid body is that of a wife. All women are prostitutes of one kind or another."
"All the men I did get to know, every single man of them, has filled me with but one desire: to lift my hand and bring it smashing down on his face."
"Writing: such has been my crime ever since I was a small child. To this day writing remains my crime. Now, although I am out of prison, I continue to live inside a prison of another sort, one without steel bars. For the technology of oppression and might without justice has become more advanced, and the fetters imposed on mind and body have become invisible. The most dangerous shackles are the invisible ones, because they deceive people into believing they are free. This delusion is the new prison that people inhabit today, north and south, east and west...We inhabit the age of the technology of false consciousness, the technology of hiding truths behind amiable humanistic slogans that may change from one era to another...Democracy is not just freedom to criticize the government or head of state, or to hold parliamentary elections. True democracy obtains only when the people - women, men, young people, children - have the ability to change the system of industrial capitalism that has oppressed them since the earliest days of slavery: a system based on class division, patriarchy, and military might, a hierarchical system that subjugates people merely because they are born poor, or female, or dark-skinned."
"Men impose deception on women and punish them for being deceived, force them down to the lowest level and punish them for falling so low, bind them in marriage and then chastise them with menial service for life, or insults, or blows"
"Solidarity between women can be a powerful force of change, and can influence future development in ways favourable not only to women but also to men."
"Everybody has to die. I prefer to die for a crime I have committed rather than to die for one of the crimes which you have committed."
"Revolutionary men with principles were not really different from the rest. They used their cleverness to get, in return for principles, what other men buy with their money"
"Memory is never complete. There are always parts of it that time has amputated. Writing is a way of retrieving them, of bringing the missing parts back to it, of making it more holistic."
"How many were the years of my life that went by before my body, and my self became really mine, to do with them as I wished? How many were the years of my life that were lost before I tore my body and my self away from the people who held me in their grasp since the very first day?"
"Interviewer: What would you say to a woman in this country who assumes she is no longer oppressed, who believes women's liberation has been achieved?"
"But I feel that you, in particular, are a person who cannot live without love." "Yet I am living without love." "Then you are either living a lie or not living at all."
"What we require is not a formal return to tradition and religion, but a rereading, a reinterpretation, of our history that can illuminate the present and pave the way to a better future. For example, if we delve more deeply into ancient Egyptian and African civilisations we will discover the humanistic elements that were prevalent in many areas of life. Women enjoyed a high status and rights, which they later lost when class patriarchal society became the prevalent social system."
"I now knew that all of us were prostitutes who sold themselves at varying prices, and that an expensive prostitute was better than a cheap one"
"Words should not seek to please, to hide the wounds in our bodies, or the shameful moments in our lives. They may hurt, give us pain, but they can also provoke us to question what we have accepted for thousands of years"
"I discovered that all these rulers were men. What they had in common was an avaricious and distorted personality, a never-ending appetite for money, sex and unlimited power. They were men who sowed corruption on the earth, and plundered their peoples, men endowed with loud voices, a capacity for persuasion, for choosing sweet words and shooting poisoned arrows. Thus, the truth about them was revealed only after their death, and as a result I discovered that history tended to repeat itself with a foolish obstinacy."
"Here the oppression of women is very subtle. If we take female circumcision, the excision of the clitoris, it is done physically in Egypt. But here it is done psychologically and by education. So even if women have the clitoris, the clitoris was banned; it was removed by Freudian theory and by the mainstream culture"
"For truth and death are similar in that they both require a great courage if one wishes to face them. And truth is like death in that it kills. When I killed I did it with truth not with a knife. That is why they are afraid and in a hurry to execute me. They do not fear my knife. It is my truth that frightens them."
"You poor, deluded woman...do you believe there is any such thing as love?...You're living an illusion. Do you believe the words of love they whisper in the ears of penniless women like us?"
"Now i had learnt that honor required large sums of money to protect it, but that large sums of money could not be obtained without losing one's honor. An infernal circle whirling round and round, draggng me up and down with it."
"Something I tried to hold onto, to touch if only for a moment, but it slipped away from me like the air, like an illusion, or a dream that floats away and is lost. I wept in my sleep as though it was something I was losing now; a loss I was experiencing for the first time, and not something I had lost a long time ago."
"She replied that it was precisely men well versed in religion who beat their wives. The precepts of religion permitted such punishment. A virtuous woman was not supposed to complain about her husband. Her duty was perfect obedience."
"Ever since I was a child I used to hear my father say: ‘If the price we pay for freedom is high, we pay a much higher price if we accept to be slaves"
"Motherhood goes back in history to a time when a father had no way of knowing his children. Fatherhood only became known when class patriarchal society had established itself and imposed monogamous marriage on women. Motherhood is like sun and rain and plants, a quality and product of nature which does not require laws or systems in order to exist."
"There is a proverb that says, ‘Talk so that I may know who you are.’ But I say, ‘Show me your eyes and I will know who you are."
"A successful prostitute was better than a misled saint. All women are victims of deception. Men impose deception on women and punish them for being deceived, force them down to the lowest level and punish them for falling so low, bind them in marriage and then chastise them with menial service for life, or insults, or blows."
"That men force women to sell their bodies at a price, and that the lowest paid body is that of a wife. All women are prostitutes of one kind or another. Because I was intelligent I preferred to be a free prostitute, rather than an enslaved wife"
"I came to realize that a female employee is more afraid of losing her job than a prostitute is of losing her life. An employee is scared of losing her job and becoming a prostitute because she does not understand that the prostitute’s life is in fact better than hers. And so she pays the price of her illusory fears with her life, her health, her body, and her mind. She pays the highest price for things of the lowest value. I now knew that all of us were prostitutes who sold themselves at varying prices, and that an expensive prostitute was better than a cheap one. I also knew that if I lost my job, all I would lose with it was the miserable salary, the contempt I could read every day in the eyes of the higher level executives when they looked at the lesser female officials, the humiliating pressure of male bodies on mine when I rode in the bus, and the long morning queue in front of a perpetually overflowing toilet"
"My heart faltered, overcome by its frightened, almost frenzied beating because of something I had just lost, or was on the point of losing for ever. My fingers grasped at his hand with such violence that no force in the world, no matter how great, could take it away from me"
"Thus, after a period of about two thousand years the greatest crime became to worship a god other than the God of Moses, whereas injustice became a minor sin. I began to ask myself how this change had come about. Was it linked to a new order in which the female goddesses had been replaced by one male god?"
"I am speaking the truth now without any difficulty. For the truth is always easy and simple. And in its simplicity lies a savage power. I only arrived at the savage, primitive truths of life after years of struggle. For it is only very rarely that people can arrive at the simple, but awesome and powerful truths of life after only a few years. And to have arrived at the truth means that one no longer fears death. For death and truth are similar in that they both require a great courage if one wishes to face them. And truth is like death in that it kills. When I killed I did it with truth not with a knife. That is why they are afraid and in a hurry to execute me. They do not fear my knife. It is my truth which frightens them. This fearful truth gives me great strength. It protects me from fearing death, or life, or hunger, or nakedness, or destruction. It is this fearful truth which prevents me from fearing the brutality of rulers and policemen. I spit with ease on their lying faces and words, on their lying newspapers"
"In no country in the world has it happened that women have achieved equal rights with men simply because they have been given their political rights. All the clamour of voices"
"I knew that successful politicians cannot bear to accept defeat within themselves. A human being cannot stand up to a double defeat. That is the secret of their continuous attempt to rise to power. They draw a feeling of supremacy from their power over others. It makes them feel victorious rather than defeated. It hides how essentially hollow they are inside, despite the impression of greatness they try to spread around them, which is all they really care for."
"I read love stories and love poems. But I preferred books written about rulers. I read about a ruler whose female servants and concubines were as numerous as his army, and about another whose only interests in life were wine, women, and whipping his slaves. A third cared little for women, but enjoyed wars, killing, and torturing men. Another of these rulers loved food, money and hoarding riches without end. Still another was possessed with such an admiration for himself and his greatness that for him no one else in the land existed. There was also a ruler so obsessed with plots and conspiracies that he spent all his time distorting the facts of history and trying to fool his people.I discovered that all these rulers were men. What they had in common was an avaricious and distorted personality, a never-ending appetite for money, sex and unlimited power. They were men who sowed corruption on the earth, and plundered their peoples, men endowed with loud voices, a capacity for persuasion, for choosing sweet words and shooting poisoned arrows. Thus, the truth about them was revealed only after their deaths, and as a result I discovered that history tended to repeat itself with a foolish obstinacy"
"I have triumphed over both life and death because I no longer desire to live, nor do I any longer fear to die. I want nothing. I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. Therefore I am free. For during life it is our wants, our hopes, our fears that enslave us."
"he explained to me that refusing a Head of State could be looked upon as an insult to a great man and lead to strained relations between the two countries. He added that if I really loved my country, if I was a patriot, I would go to him at once. So I told the man from the police that I knew nothing about patriotism, that my country had not only given me nothing, but had also taken away anything I might have had, including my honour and my dignity"
"Egypt has transformed from an influential regional actor into a global strategic partner."
"that the world was dazzled by the brilliant organization of the fourth edition of the World Youth Forum, which concluded its activities in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El Sheikh Thursday."
"the determination of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to hold the forum, despite the global outbreak of infections by the Omicron variant of coronavirus, was strong evidence of Egypt’s ability to organize such a worldwide event"
"the WYF served as a starting point for the UN Climate Change Conference 2022 (COP 27) that will kick off in Sharm El Sheikh in November"
"Mubarak told me, 'If I wanted my son Gamal to be president, I would have made him join the Military Academy to help me, but I never thought about this"
"Mubarak denied that he had an intention to pass down the presidency to his son, adding that US promoted for that idea in Egypt."
"The presidency deeply mourns former President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, as he served the country as a commander, and a hero of the great October War. Mubarak was commander of the Air Forces during the war that restored dignity and pride to the Arab nation"
"Bold action inclusive of persons with disabilities is needed, otherwise they will continue to be left behind"
"Over the past decade we have broaden the agenda by including the disability voice in debates on global issues where persons with disability where nearly too invisible."
"We also have a world facing multiple crises: a wave of brutal armed conflict,the negative effect of climate change , increasing polarized societies , inequalities discrimination and rising cost of living."
"In this context my opinion priority is to make sure that the protection of the rights of persons with disability Is part of the rights of person with disabilities is part of the responses and solutions to such crises"
"I am particularly committed to raising the disability prospective in processes linked to accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Agenda and efforts to bring transformative action for the future of humanity."
"The key objective of the SDGs is for no one to be left behind, and so these objectives lead us to start with marginalized groups,"