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#ReclaimTheNarrative: Bodily Autonomy & Sexual Sovereignty

Reclaim the Narrative is an AWRA initiative that discusses solutions for the issues most impacting women.

Many women in Egypt, the Middle East, and Africa haven’t been able to enjoy their bodies and own their experiences for far too long under the rule of patriarchal governments and authoritarian regimes. But that is now changing.

Egypt, the Arab world’s most populous country, has the highest number of women and girls in the world who have experienced Female Genital Mutilation, with a prevalence rate of 87 percent among women aged 15-49. Nearly 98 percent of women in Egypt say they’ve experienced some form of sexual harassment from men.

Women are now discussing issues pertaining to female sexuality, bodily autonomy, and how politics and economic empowerment play a crucial role in all of the above.

So how can we address the different forms of sexual abuse in Egypt and beyond? How can we better educate girls and women on how to achieve sexual sovereignty and bodily autonomy? We tackle these topics and more in AWRA’s ongoing YouTube series, #ReclaimTheNarrative.

In Part 1 and Part 2 of this month’s episode, panelists included:
Reem Abdellatif

The Author

Reem Abdellatif is an AWRA founding member. As a former foreign correspondent, her in-depth stories on women marginalization, gender-based violence, and domestic abuse are testament to her passion for creating social impact. Reem is Egyptian-American and is part of the first generation of women in her family to escape Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Egypt.