When:
Sunday January 29 2012 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Where:
Flemington Racecourse, VIC



Attention all Big Day Out goers! One of the biggest music festivals of the year is fast approaching and we are just as excited as you are! In between sets, don't forget to visit us at our Amnesty International stall and say hello! We're raising awareness about our campaigns on women's rights in Egypt and we would be forever thankful for your support.

Did you know?

- The Egyptian penal code does not fully protect women from domestic violence, including marital rape. It also allows for leniency towards men who commit murder in “honour crimes”.
- Female genital mutilation is still widely practiced, especially in rural areas, and the law continues to permit such procedures for “medical reasons”.

What is this campaign about?

Women played a key role in Egypt's uprising early this year calling for reform, but have since been sidelined. Egypt has an opportunity to begin afresh on the basis of equality and non-discrimination for all its citizens. The principles of equality and non-discrimination are central to this reform. But that opportunity will not last if women continue to be excluded from the reform process. For example, women jurists were left out of the constitutional reform committee and women demonstrators have been subjected to verbal and physical abuse. Women are central to shaping the new Egypt – and they are demanding their right to participate in the reform process. For lasting human rights change to be achieved in Egypt, women must be full partners in the process.

Egyptians will begin going to the polls on Nov. 28 to elect their Parliament. The elections will be held in three stages lasting until March, with the winners coming together to draft the country's first post-Mubarak constitution after that. A presidential election is expected in late 2012 or early 2013.

Discrimination and exclusion are not new for women in Egypt. The World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap 2010 Report has ranked Egypt 125 out of 134 countries in terms of gender equality.

What is Amnesty International's role in this?

We are seeking to ensure the full participation of Egyptian women in shaping the new Egypt by demanding that the Prime Minister, Essam Sharf:
- Ensure that women and women's rights activists form part of any reform process, and that human rights, non-discrimination and equality are at the heart of reforms during and after elections;
- Ensure that women can vote in all elections and referendums and run for public office on an equal basis with men and without facing restrictions, harassment or coercion;
- Ensure that women can participate in the formulation of government policy. Barriers to equality need to be removed by amending existing legislation to better protect women’s rights to equality and non-discrimination and ensure they can play an active role in reforms.

Do you need more information?

See the campaign digest called, “women demand equality in shaping the new Egypt.” It is available from your action centre.

Contact cctintern@amnesty.org.au for more information.