الهيئة العامة للرقابة المالية

• Mohamed Farid, FRA’s Chairman delivered the opening speech, highlighting the Authority’s commitment to support and empower women
• The seminar was jointly organized by the Authority and UN Women, with the participation of the National Council for Women and representatives from non-bank financial institutions

Dr. Mohammed Farid – FRA Chairman:

• FRA is dedicated to driving efforts to qualify and empower women, aiming to enhance their role in the economy. FRA prioritizes qualified personnel in all its endeavors.
• To foster a harmonious workplace, FRA is setting up a Community-Building Unit.

Marwa Alameldeen, UN Women Egypt Deputy Country Representative:

• We reaffirm our dedication to provide comprehensive support to private sector companies across diverse sectors, collaborating closely with our development partners

Dr. Marian Kaldas, Member of NCW:

• We must ensure equal representation of women in non-bank financial Institutions

FRA hosted a seminar to discuss how the private sector can contribute to creating safer, healthier, and more inclusive workplaces for all employees, as part of the UN’s 16 Days of Activism campaign to end gender-based violence against women and girls.

The seminar brought together Dr. Mohamed Farid, FRA Chairman; Marwa Alameldeen, UN Women Egypt Deputy Country Representative; Dr. Marian Kaldas, Executive Director of the Egyptian Center for Arbitration and Settlement of Non-Banking Financial Disputes and member of the National Council for Women. In addition to Dr. Mohamed Abdel Aziz, Assistant to FRA Chairman, Mr. Mohamed Ayyad , Media Advisor to  Chairman, Dr. Ahmed Rushdy, Executive Director of Regional Center for Sustainable Finance (RCSF), Yasmin Hassan, Head of FRA Board Secretariat , Dr. Aya Yousry , Women Empowerment Officer and Dr. Nehad Abu Al Komsan, Legal Expert. That is besides representatives from entities dedicated to promoting gender equality, empowering women, and creating safe and inclusive workplaces.

Dr. Mohamed Farid, FRA Chairman delivered a keynote address at the seminar, emphasizing the Authority’s commitment to empower women. He discussed the implementation of measures to increase female representation on boards of directors and the provision of skill-based training programs. Dr. Farid reiterated the importance of a fair and equitable approach to women’s empowerment, rejecting any form of discrimination. He also emphasized the alignment of the Authority’s initiatives with Egypt’s ‘Women Empowerment Strategy 2030,’ launched in 2017 aiming at fostering a safe and supportive work environment for women.

Dr. Farid highlighted FRA’s pioneering role in supporting women and combating violence against them. As the first regulatory body worldwide to adopt the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles in 2022, the Authority is committed to promote gender equality in both the workplace and society.

Furthermore, the Authority has undertaken a range of initiatives to promote gender equality. These include organizing seminars with the UN Women on improving workplace environments, publishing a guidebook on preventing workplace harassment and actively working to increase female representation on corporate boards in the non-bank financial sector.

Dr. Farid further noted that the Authority has established a Community Development Unit to create a supportive workplace for all employees. In the coming period, the Authority will introduce a comprehensive code of conduct, emphasizing principles such as respect for others regardless of their position, gender, age, religion, or affiliation.

Dr. Farid emphasized that violence against women in the workplace is a complex issue with far-reaching consequences. According to ILO Convention No. 190, such violence and harassment in the workplace encompass a range of unacceptable behaviors that can result in physical, psychological, or economic harm. These behaviors include bullying, insults, harassment, and dismissal due to marriage or maternity. Citing ILO reports indicating that over 23% of employees globally have experienced workplace violence, Dr. Farid stressed the urgent need for comprehensive policies and interventions to create safe and respectful work environments for all.

Dr. Farid emphasized the Authority’s belief that women’s economic empowerment is a cornerstone of achieving justice and equality. Ensuring equal opportunities, supporting women in leadership positions and guaranteeing respectful work environments are fundamental steps towards sustainable development.

On the other hand, Marwa Alameldeen – UN Women Egypt Deputy Country Representative, highlighted the importance of collaborating with the private sector to empower women in the workplace. “We reaffirm our commitment to support private sector companies across various fields in collaboration with development partners. This is rooted in our strong belief in the role of companies in creating a safe and healthy work environment for all employees, which positively affects company productivity. We also aim to encourage more Egyptian companies to adopt the Women’s Empowerment Principles and take concrete steps to enhance women’s participation in the workforce” she said.

Dr. Marian Kaldas, Executive Director of the Egyptian Center for Arbitration and Settlement of Non-Banking Financial Disputes and member of the National Council for Women emphasized the importance of empowering women, a cause that Dr. Mohamed Farid strongly supports. She stressed the need for concrete actions to achieve gender parity in non-banking financial institutions.

Moreover, Dr. Marian pointed out the importance of training employees on understanding entities’ code of conduct and grievance procedures. She emphasized the need for regular assessments to ensure employees’ comprehension. That is besides encouraging the use of formal grievance procedures and redefining organizational culture with professional behavior principle. Additionally, Dr. Marian suggested conducting training sessions for employees working in Complaints Departments to equip them with the skills to handle and resolve complaints impartially.

Yasmin Hassan, Head of FRA Board Secretariat and Women’s Empowerment Officer, outlined a plan to establish a Community Building Unit within the Authority. The aim is to create a stable and safe work environment, free from discrimination and to ensure equal opportunities for all employees. This Unit will also foster cooperation, social interaction and positive engagement, ultimately creating an ethical workplace.