Egypt has been at the forefront of the Arab uprisings of 2011. These have been unprecedented protests by citizens reclaiming their rights not only to political freedoms but, critically, to a decent standard of living. Deep frustration, particularly among young people, about a lack of economic prospects, undignified living conditions, endemic poverty, stark inequalities and government corruption has fueled popular outrage just as much as frustrations about restrictive emergency laws, state brutality and the absence of democratic freedoms.
In particular, despite some progress in realizing the rights to health and education in Egypt, women's access to education, health services and work remain relatively low compared to other lower-middle income countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Strong gender disparities persist in health and education outcomes. These disparities were highlighted in a 2009 CESR factsheet produced in light of the Egypt???s presentation before the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) at its 45th session in January 2010, as well as its appearance before the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council in early 2010.
The fact sheet is part of CESR's Visualizing Rights series. Each fact sheet focuses on a country and its economic, social and cultural rights obligations. This focus helps enable intergovernmental human rights mechanisms, such as the UN, and national and international NGOs, monitor governments' compliance with their economic, social and cultural rights obligations.
The latest available socioeconomic data is used, taken either from international sources such as the World Bank or the UNDP, or national sources, such as national statistics bureaus. This data is displayed using graphs and charts, and then analyzed and interpreted. This is meant to shed light on the condition of governments' economic and social rights obligations.