Beyond the shadows: domestic spousal violence in a "democratizing" Egypt
Author: Ammar NH.
Source:
Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 7(4), 244-259.
This study provides an exposé of spousal abuse in Egypt in terms of its nature
(prevalence, forms, risk factors, reporting), the criminal justice response,
available services that deal with it, and its impact on individual women, the
family, and the general societal fabric. This study is based on empirical
studies, surveys, UN reports, and newspaper articles. Since the beginning of
2000, Egypt has witnessed legal, organizational, and political changes, both
generally and concerning women. Some changes address the issue of spousal abuse
directly, and others focus on empowering women in family and society. As a
result, it is important to develop a baseline profile of spousal abuse for future
research on and the evaluation of the effects of such policies and legal changes.
This would enable researchers to measure over time strategies that influence
change and reduce violence against women. This article provides the first step in
the baseline.