A new bill proposing to change Egyptian women’s rights around marriage and child custodianship could take women back 200 years, according to activists. The draft Personal Status Law bill was introduced on 23 February and, according to the Egyptian Centre for Women’s Rights, could drastically limit the rights of some women. The draft bill includes allowing a woman’s father, brother or male guardian to sign marriage papers on her behalf, or to file a lawsuit to annul a woman’s marriage if he deems the couple incompatible. The bill also strips women of their rights to custodianship over their kids, requiring women to seek permission from the child’s father before making any legal decisions with regards to the child, local media have reported.
