Pink Taxi strikes back against sexual assaults in Egypt

2015-09-09 7

There is a new taxi company in Egypt reserved for women: Pink Taxi.

Sexual harassment and Egyptian male society’s behaviour toward women is the worst in the Arab world, according to experts in 22 Arab countries.

With no clear signs of improvement, Pink Taxi founder Reem Fawzy has taken a business approach to the problem.

Fawzy told euronews: “Any new idea takes its cue from society, and we need a transport service for Egyptian women. Not only for them, in fact: for all Arab women and foreigners — women in general.”

In June last year, a new law was passed in Egypt, which made sexual harassment an offence punishable by six months in prison or the equivalent of a roughly 340-euro fine. Intervention groups continue to press to have existing laws enforced, and to turn attitudes around.

Pink Taxi driver training includes psychological preparation for dealing with the public. The women must have a secondary school diploma and speak a language in addition to Arabic.

At the wheel, M

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