NCW Committees

By virtue of decree No. 90/2000 establishing the National Council for Women (NCW), the Council shall set up, in addition to its Standing specialized Committees, steering and ad-hoc committees to assist it in fulfilling its mandate. The terms of reference of such committees are to be specified by a Council's decision, based on requirements. Accordingly, NCW has established the following committees:

Steering committees: These committees support the activities of NCW projects, centers and/or offices by approving the work plans, following up on the work progress, identifying problems and proposing solutions.

Ad-hoc committees: Ad-hoc committees are established for in-depth study of specific issues or problems for a limited period of time. The work of an ad-hoc committee ends once these issues are resolved.

Special committees: These committees are established to support and develop the work of NCW's General Secretariat. Following is a list of NCW's current committees:

1- The Steering Committees

• The Steering Committee for Empowering Female Heads of Households Project (Saqarra's slum area) Terms of Reference: Formulate the general policy for the implementation and management of the project in the area of Shabrament (Saqarra's slum area). This project is being funded by Barclays Bank Egypt.
• The Steering Committee for NCW Women's Business Center Terms of Reference: To discuss and approve the work plan of NCW Women's Business Center (WBDC), follow-up the progress of its activities, identify and remove obstacles slowing the work, in addition to monitoring and conducting a periodical evaluation of the Center's activities.
• The Steering Committee for the Political Empowerment of Women Project Terms of reference: To review and periodically assess the progress of the project to ensure that its objectives are met.
• The Steering Committee for the Media Watch Project Terms of reference: To follow-up the work of NCW Media Watch Unit which monitors and analyzes the information material presented about women in all forms of the media and identify the prevailing trends, whether positive or negative.
• The Steering Committee for the Project of Combating Violence Against Women Terms of Reference: To approve the work plan of the project and to follow up the progress of its work. It is also required to look into obstacles faced in the process of implementation and to propose the introduction of new dimensions and activities to improve performance within the framework of NCW's mandate and the project objectives.
• The Steering Committee for the Ombudsman's Office Terms of reference: to discuss the work plan of the office, follow up the progress of its activities and remove any obstacles impeding its work. It also coordinates with the Equal Opportunity Units in the line ministries.

2- The Ad-hoc-Committees

• The Ad-hoc Committee for following-up and reporting on CEDAW. Terms of reference: to review the data and information related to the achievements of the governmental ministries, civil society and NGOs with regard the implementation of the provisions and articles of CEDAW. The committee currently reviews Egypt's combined sixth and seventh periodical national reports for submission to the UN.
• The Ad-hoc Committee for the Most Needy Women Terms of reference: to examine the problems faced by the most needy women, identify the root causes behind such problems and explore ways of cooperation with the relevant institutions to solve them.
• The Ad-hoc Committee for the Egyptian Women's Electronic Portal Terms of Reference: to follow up the process of creating the portal and ensure the quality of the content of its pages in relation to its objectives.
• The Ad-hoc Committee for Setting Indicators to Measure Gender Equality Terms of Reference: To review the currently used indicators for measuring equality in the state's national development plan with a view to proposing the introduction of more precise indicators to measure gender equality, both quantitatively and qualitatively. A main focus of the Committee's work is to follow up the implementation of the Third Millennium Goal, with particular emphasis on the state's five-year national plan.
• The Task Force for Illiteracy Eradication Terms of reference: To follow-up and complement NCW's efforts in combating illiteracy, study the actual magnitude of this problem and review the figures indicating the rate of the progress achieved. It also reviews current initiatives and projects being carried out and the progress achieved towards the eradication of illiteracy.

The Special Committees

• The Information Center Committee Terms of reference: To express technical opinions on all matters related to the purchase, installation and upgrading of the Documentation and Information Center, its networks and electronic equipments. This entails ensuring that technical specifications are met, in addition to supervising the installation and operation of new equipment. Currently, a new website is being developed that will contain all the disciplines of NCW including its specialized library.
• The Working Women Committee Terms of reference: This committee, which includes members of Equal Opportunity Units, aims at identifying and addressing the problems that working women face in the labor market, submitting proposals to resolve them, and mounting a database on the representation of women in the labor market.
• The Library Committee Terms of Reference: To establish the internal regulations of the library, periodically select the books to be purchased for the library and review the books offered to the Council.
• The NCW Website Follow Up Committee: Terms of Reference: To develop and update the content of NCW website to ensure that it complies with the best standards in terms of content, accessibility and usability. The committee started its work with the political, economic and social empowerment of women.
• The Studies and Research Committee Terms of reference: To propose research and studies on specific areas related to the objectives of NCW and the policies it should adopt in pursuing these objectives