The number of sexual harassment complaints in Egypt declined between December 25 and April 18, compared to a hike in the phenomenon in state-run or privately-owned schools and universities, according to the "Shoft Taharosh" (I Saw Harassment) initiative.
In a report issued on Monday, the initiative said teenage girls were increasingly exposed to sexual violence by teachers in schools. Similar incidents were reported on campuses against female students by male students or faculty members.
According to the report, harassment has become endemic at universities to the extent that some faculty members blackmail students by promising higher grades in exchange for sexual favors. It also indicated that a number of policies and measures taken by Cairo University to limit the phenomenon, including forming a unit to combat violence and harassment against women, proves it is an issue at the university.
The Beheira governorate leads with the highest number of complaints at 28 percent of the nation's total harassment cases, followed by Cairo with 24 percent, Damietta with 11 percent, Sharqiya with 8 percent, Alexandria with 5 percent and Sohag, Qalyubiya and the Red Sea with 3 percent each.
Monufiya, New Valley, Assiut and Minya each represented 2 percent of the total number of complaints, while Giza, Port Said, Aswan and Daqahliya occupied 1.5 percent and Gharbiya 1 percent.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
