El-Sisi’s remarks came during the celebration on Monday of Egyptian Women’s Day.
During the celebration, the president announced several decisions in support of Egyptian women.
“Women have proven time after time that they are an endless source of support and awareness and a unique mixture of reason and heart, objectivity and emotions, making [them] a tremendous driving force for the nation during ordeals and hardships, before pleasant times,” he added.
El-Sisi said that Egyptian women deserve better.
He instructed the government to increase representation of women in the boards of directors of public bodies, business sector companies and affiliated companies.
The president also gave directions to provide more training opportunities to women so that more qualified women occupy senior positions in the state, particularly in the fields of technology and digitisation
The president also gave instructions to the government to build women’s capacities – under the national project for the development of the Egyptian family and various development programmes – through helping them implement small green projects that include sustainable income-generating activities, as well as through providing opportunities for them to benefit from digital savings and loan projects.
In addition, El-Sisi urged legislative and institutional support for women’s small and micro enterprises by facilitating the procedures of banking regulations as well as by integrating these projects into the activities of industrial complexes.
He also gave instructions to follow up on the equal pay index between genders and to take the necessary measures to ensure the sustainable improvement of this indicator.
The president also issued directives to protect working women and guarantee their rights in the draft of the labor law.
During the event, the president announced that he was granting a presidential pardon to all debtors – whether men or women – who are serving sentences in reform and rehabilitation centres, and that they would be released before the holy month of Ramadan.
“The Egyptian woman has always been the key to every narrative, the source of giving, patience and endurance; an icon of persistence, determination, and success,” he noted.
“I don’t have a bias towards women,” the president asserted, adding that he is attempting to establish equality.
“Egyptian women played an essential part in safeguarding Egypt in 2013 and beyond,” he pointed out.
On the personal status law, El-Sisi reaffirmed the state’s keenness to make a balanced and objective personal status law that protects the family.
He asserted that there will be a lot of discussion about the legislation in society.
During the celebration, El-Sisi honoured several ladies from various socioeconomic groups in Egypt.
