Recent statements made by Colonel Manal Atef, who heads the department in the Interior Ministry specifically set up to tackle violence against women, revealed a series of more stringent measures to prevent sexual harassment, particularly during the holidays. As part of this, Atef promised that there will be an increased number of female police officers in the street and in public transportation to help combat the annual holiday phenomenon. The department dealing with violence against women was established in 2013. Following this, Egypt passed an anti-harassment law in 2014, which penalizes those found guilty of sexual harassment with a fine of LE 3,000 to LE 5,000 ($419 to $700) and/or a jail sentence of no less than six months. Both Atef and General Abu Bakr Abdel-Karim, the Minister of Interior’s aide for public relations and media, have urged women to report harassment directly to police officers or using several mobile phone numbers. Critics, however, believe that these promises are made annually without resulting in a direct impact on the spread of the phenomenon. “Every year police promise serious interventions, and we see the presence of female police officers across Cairo…
