Ashraf AboArafe
President AbdulFatah AlSisi gave a speech in celebrating Mother Day as follows:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
The Honorable People of Egypt,
The Great Women of Egypt,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me at the outset to express my utter happiness and pride as I witness today our annual celebration of the great Egyptian woman. Hence, I would like to take this occasion to express the deep feelings of pride, appreciation and gratitude to the Egyptian woman, the conscience and beating heart of the nation and the faithful guardian of the Egyptian identity.
Women are the source of support and hope in every crisis that the state went through; they have always been the protective shield against everyone who tries to undermine the country’s resolve.
I invite all attendees to stand in tribute to the Egyptian women and in appreciation of their great efforts and sacrifices for our dear homeland, Egypt.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Over the past years, the Egyptian Women’s Day celebration has become a dear tradition to all of us, one that is particularly close to my heart. This celebration is considered an annual shield awarded by the state to Egyptian women as a token of gratitude, appreciation and respect for their daily efforts and sacrifices as well as their unwavering participation in building the homeland. A woman is the mother, the river of giving, dedication and sacrifice, who faces all challenges without tiring or boredom. She is also the daughter and the strong, courageous and loyal wife; she is the working woman and the head of the family. Moreover, we can signal women’s representation in all roles in society as women demonstrate a fighting character and enjoy the energy of giving and sacrifice, devoid of any interests.
Respecting Egyptian women and appreciating their role are as old as the Egyptian civilization. During the era of ancient history, this appreciation was sanctified; the symbols of wisdom, justice and strength were portrayed in the image of a woman. Therefore, the Egyptian woman is the first woman in the world to hold a great position in society, and thence the stories of the Egyptian women’s accomplishments in all fields followed. These are stories of struggle, striving and sacrifice, worthy of our pride, appreciation and respect.
The Great Women of Egypt,
Since I assumed responsibility for this country, women’s support and empowerment has been a central focus in the state’s comprehensive development plan. Thus, here we are reaping the fruits of our labor; the Egyptian woman has become a role model in all international forums in various fields.
Allow me to say it clearly to the Egyptian women: You are the heroines behind the success of the State’s policies and plans. Had it not been for your strength, determination, and endurance, we would not have reached where we are today. You have always been the elixir of success against all the odds the country has gone through. Hence, I would like to express my appreciation and pride for the Egyptian women.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In continuation of the process of supporting and empowering Egyptian women, I issued the following directives:
– The House of Representatives shall take the necessary measures to issue a draft bill banning child marriage (early marriage) through a separate law in which the legal age of marriage is explicitly stipulated.
– The Ministry of Transport shall provide the maximum safety for women and girls in public transport to ensure their utmost safety and security in all public transport.
– The Central Bank shall examine procedures that explicitly prohibit gender discrimination with regard to access to loans and financing, taking into account the particular circumstances of women most in need.
– The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (MSMEDA) and the Ministry of Social Solidarity, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Council for Women, shall implement programs supporting rural women through productive loans and financial education programs.
– The concerned ministries shall take the necessary measures to put an end to the phenomenon of “female debtors”, study the measures required to be taken to that end, and facilitate the procedures of the initiatives in coordination with the concerned authorities.
– The Ministry of Planning and the National Council for Women shall monitor the status of women in decision-making positions, whether in leadership posts or in the governing bodies of public and private institutions.
– The Ministry of Social Solidarity shall simplify procedures for guardianship and adopt a system to ensure its efficiency.
The Great Women of Egypt,
I assure you: “You are in the heart and mind of the Egyptian State. Protecting the future of Egyptian women and girls has become a priority for all state institutions. You must always know that you are Egypt’s shield, safety valve, and key to its future.”
Many happy returns and may our dear Egypt stay in progress and prosperity always and forever.
Long live Egypt … Long live Egypt … Long live Egypt.
May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon you.
