Hon. Sahar Albazar, Member of the Egyptian Parliament and Deputy Chair of Egypt’s Foreign Affairs Committee, emphasized the urgent need to secure women’s right to food in an address to an FAO side event during the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), entitled “Towards Rights-Based and Gender-Just Food Security and Nutrition: Pathways to Ending Hunger and Leaving No One Behind.” 

Approximately 150 million women worldwide suffer from acute malnutrition. Malnutrition during pregnancy poses severe health risks, including anaemia, which affects more than 40% of pregnant women globally. Hon. Albazar stressed that ensuring women’s access to adequate nutrition is vital not only for their health but also for broader societal well-being, with other consequences of food insecurity including increased stress and anxiety.

In Egypt, Hon. Albazar highlighted that while women represent 45% of the agricultural labour force, they own only 5% of the land, significantly limiting their economic empowerment. However, the country is actively working to advance gender-responsive strategies, with the National Strategy for the Empowerment of Egyptian Women 2030 integrating women’s empowerment into all facets of policy and programming.

Strong national commitment to enhancing women’s economic participation and resilience in Egypt

Reforms and initiatives have been implemented to address key challenges, including Law No. 219 of 2017, which criminalizes the denial of women’s inheritance rights, reinforcing women’s access to land and resources. Financial inclusion for women has also been significantly improved in Egypt through initiatives led by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), while the Takaful and Karama social protection fund has extended financial support to vulnerable families, with 75% of the beneficiaries being women. 

Hon. Albazar highlighted efforts aimed at addressing financial burdens on rural families, including initiatives to assist farmers in managing their debts. These efforts particularly benefit women working in agriculture and play a vital role.

In addition to legislative and economic reforms, Egypt has prioritized gender-sensitive budgeting, for gender-responsive initiatives. This significant investment underscores the country’s commitment to promoting women’s rights and advancing gender equality across sectors.

On-the-ground initiatives demonstrating measurable impact

Women’s agribusiness programmes have provided thousands of women farmers with training, microfinance and access to agricultural technologies, empowering them to increase their productivity and achieve greater economic independence. School feeding programmes have reached 13 million children, with a particular focus on girls from food-insecure households, enhancing both nutrition and educational outcomes. Moreover, climate-resilient agriculture projects in Upper Egypt have supported women-led farms by promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, strengthening sustainability and food security.

Hon. Sahar Albazar underlined that women’s right to food is not merely a fundamental human right but a key driver of sustainable development, calling for the expansion of legislative, economic, and community-driven solutions to ensure that every woman has secure and equal access to food. Stressing the importance of collaboration at national, regional, and global levels, she urged collective action to accelerate progress toward achieving food security for all.