Morsi supports women's rights

The head of Egypt's National Council for Women Mervat El-Tellawi has released a statement where she says that President Mohammed Morsi has promised to "support women’s rights, develop them, and review all legislations pertaining to their rights, and institutions concerned with setting these legislations”. Tellawi met President Morsi at the Ittihadiyah palace on Saturday, and discussed "the conditions of women, how to improve them, and consider their rights a priority for social justice”. The official added: “The rumours spread about political Islamic streams, and the stereotypes levelled at them of hijacking women’s rights are not based on truth. After meeting President Morsi I was assured of his support for women development and non-discrimination.”  In a press conference at the presidency headquarters, Tellawi said: “The president has promised to review the structure of the NCW, its budget and goals, in a way that would achieve more progress for women. He also promised that the council would include the most prominent representatives of NGOs representing women in Egypt.” However, Tellawi said: "The percentage of representation of women in the new cabinet is not satisfactory, and will remain so until this number increases...I am however hopeful for a better position for women, after the president’s promise to support women and their development”. “The council called for adopting women’s rights in the new constitution, and a document containing women’s demands was sent to counsellor Hossam El-Gheriani, chairman of the constitution Constituent Assembly, and to the president,” she added. "Now, our rights will not change when the president does," she said. The NCW head explained that “the approved council plan supports rural women, helps them raise their economic level, prevents them from quitting education, encourages projects to raise the standard of living, eliminates illiteracy, and builds financial organisations that lend to people based in poor villages”.