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Monday, 3 June 2013
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  • Egypt: Epidemic of Sexual Violence

    Feature
    Duration : 5m 14s
    (New York, July 3, 2013) – Egyptian officials and political leaders across the spectrum should condemn and take immediate steps to address the horrific levels of sexual violence against women in Tahrir Square, Human Rights Watch said today. Egyptian anti-sexual harassment groups confirmed that mobs sexually assaulted and in some cases raped at least 91 women in Tahrir Square over four days of protests beginning on June 30, 2013 amid a climate of impunity.
    “The rampant sexual attacks during the Tahrir Square protests highlight the failure of the government and all political parties to face up to the violence that women in Egypt experience on a daily basis in public space,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “These are serious crimes that are holding women back from participating fully in the public life of Egypt at a critical point in the country’s development.”
    Human Rights Watch has long documented the problem of sexual assault in Cairo’s streets and particularly at protests. A new video highlights the stories of women who have been attacked, in some cases as recently as January.
    Videos (1)
    2013MENA EGYPT SEXUAL VIOLENCE clipreel
    Clip Reel
    6m 35s