Egypt! Where are the women?!

As the Egyptian government is transformed a great opportunity presents itself. Women are often excluded or at the very least underrepresented in state affairs, peace processes and statebuilding exercises. Egypt is presented with an opportunity to buck the trend and involve women in the formation of their new state governing apparatus. A democratic reform process has the aim of creating a freer, fairer governing apparatus that respects the rights and will of all people, including women. This end goal is impossible without the inclusion of women, a point recognised and highlighted internationally through the Beijing Declaration and subsequent UN resolutions. Yet women still remain excluded. Journalist and political commentator Mona Eltahawy tweeted on 14 February that despite women being active in the Egyptian revolution, they have been all but excluded from talks with the military. Only one woman, Asmaa Mahfouz, who’s Vlogs are cited as one of the drivers of the youth movement, was present at talks between youth organisers and the military. Egypt and other stakeholders need to recognise the importance of having a balanced perspective when building a new governance structure. Egypt can provide women with an equal voice, unprecedented in that region (or further afield for that matter). Let us support women activists in having their voices heard.

Today we are all Egyptian.

Alhumdelah. Mubarak and his friends have listened to the 18-days worth of protests. The army will take over, and oversee a hopefully peaceful transition of power and reform. Let us hope that Egyptians will have the opportunity to actively and substantially support the change in their country. Let us hope that results of this change will be recognised by the international stakeholders (i.e. what happened in Gaza/West Bank elections). Let us hope they get what they have sacrificed for (and that we leave them alone to do it).

But for now, let us celebrate with Egyptians. They have shown us a fine example of peaceful activism to bring about change. Something we can learn from. Today we are all Egyptians.

"We" supported technology in favour of facilitating democracy. But "we" didn't mean use it! (and more hypocrisy etc)

Across the Middle East and North Africa, most obviously in Egypt, populations are coming out in droves in support of regime change. One of the many positive outcomes from the surprise overturn of the Tunisian government by the Tunisian public is that it provided an example of what masses can do. It created a fearless public face that spread to young people across the region, telling them change is possible, and you do not have to live without rights.

According to the Carnegie Foundation two-thirds of the population of Egypt are under the age of 30 and nine out of ten are jobless. This is similar to the rest of the region, where the Middle East Initiative has placed 65% of the population under 30 years of age. For many, their current regimes are all they have ever known in terms of government. Realising this, innovative programs for youth engagement throughout the Middle East provided and supported by western donors, such as the United States, have promoted the use of new technologies to build bridges and support democracy, as well as to prepare them for the work force. Programs meant as extracurricular activities promoting peace and dialogue have also prepared youth to take the reins in their country and become a driving force for change. Through connectivity, they have learned of the perceived social and economic benefits of democracy. Now youth are pouring out onto the streets in search of these democratic and social rights. They crave the ability to make effective change in their own country, rather than pandering to the concerns of an outside power. They want a real voice – and we have given it to them. Our muted responses, are an attempt to say “speak out, but not too loudly”, but in doing this, the voices will only get louder.

Using mobile phones, social networking sites and proxies to get around firewalls, youth aid each other in banding together and getting a message out to a wider, begrudged audience. The fearlessness displayed by Tunisians and now by more and more Egyptians has shown the level of anger that exists among the young populations, the power and popularity of these new tools, and also how angry people get when they are taken away. The grievances are endemic and structural. They are about access to food, jobs, inflation, freer and fairer governance, services, safety and security, and so much more. No fix can be quick. People on the ground know this. What they do not want to see is more of the same old guard. A way to prevent this is to engage those who were most instrumental in mobilising the country. Actively engage youth.

Tunisia’s new transitional government has incorporated young activists in the cabinet. Persons such as Slim Amamou (@Slim404) are available on Twitter to their constituents. There could be important lessons drawn from this case. Greater support for change in the way that Tunisia and other governments’ reform can be a model for the rest of the Middle East. What governments should not do is pick sides. This is a reform that needs to be driven from the bottom up. Support should be provided accordingly.

Youth engagement needs to continue at a broader level, making sure the voices of both young men and young women are heard. A number of men have emerged as potential opposition leaders, but few women have been catapulted to the forefront. This is an opportunity to bring women (note: plural) to a negotiating table, ensure their viewpoints are being heard, and quell fears of conservative governance.

Overall, if the West and – and other current regimes - wants stability in Egypt and wider region, the viewpoints of all must be heard, and respected. Canada can play a strong role in supporting a new government, providing and advocating for assistance to reform the constitution, as well as support whole of government reform to ministries and services with the aim of greater civilian oversight, stronger judiciary, and a vibrant civil society. Canada, as a multicultural country, with visible and strong minorities and a history of peace we have a lot to share with our friends in Egypt.