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Women’s battle with Egypt’s State Council continues

The State Council refused to look into an appeal to appoint women as judges, despite constitutional texts stressing the equality between men and women in assuming public posts.
FILE PHOTO - A view of the High Court of Justice in Cairo, Egypt, January 21, 2016. To match Special Report EGYPT-JUDGES/     REUTERS/Staff/File Photo   - D1BEUHQTAPAA
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CAIRO — The Commissioners Authority of the Supreme Administrative Court on Nov. 11 rejected an appeal to appoint female judges to the State Council. The authority stated in its decision that the council has the freedom to appoint personnel at its discretion and that its stance does not reflect discrimination against women based on non-eligibility as such. Rather, the council's stance aims to ensure its proper functioning. The authority, which reviews cases brought before the council, concluded there is no binding provision in the Egyptian Constitution requiring the appointment of women to the State Council. The authority's decision was in response to an appeal filed in early 2017 by Omnia Gadallah, who objected to the State Council's refusal to accept her application for the position of assistant delegate, which is the first step toward being appointed a judge at the council.

Namati, a legal empowerment network, describes the State Council as “an independent judicial body that is exclusively competent to adjudicate in administrative disputes, disciplinary cases and appeals, and disputes pertaining to its decisions … and review draft contracts to which the state or any public entity is a party.” The Commissioners Authority's rejection of Gadallah's appeal against the council has been forwarded to the Supreme Administrative Court, which has the final say. The court, which usually gives weight to the authority's ruling, is expected to issue the final decision Feb. 24. 

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