In the words of Nancy Mohamed: "Legal work is not just about defending rights, but it is also about regaining hope and rebuilding lives"

Nancy Mohamed, an internal lawyer at the Women's Complaints Office (WCO) for 8 years, graduated from the Faculty of Law, Ain Shams University in 2012. She is currently pursuing her postgraduate studies at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, as she is doing her master’s in litigation procedures, in addition to obtaining a diploma in ‘Shariaa’ (Islamic law). Since her childhood, Nancy has been interested in women's rights issues and has always been concerned about the challenges women and girls face in her society.

"Since I was young, there was something inside me that pushed me to defend women's rights. I followed everything related to women's issues and always felt that I had a role to play in supporting them. My dream was to be part of the change. In 2017, I saw an online announcement for an internal lawyer position at the National Council for Women (NCW). I did not hesitate for a moment and applied immediately and that was a turning point in my professional life.

When I started working at the Women's Complaints Office, my experience was completely different from what I expected. I discovered that working here requires a deep understanding of the psychological side of women, especially when they have been subjected to violence. That’s why, I'm grateful for the continuous workshops and training sessions that have taught me how to handle sensitive cases professionally, while ensuring complete confidentiality of all the data that women share

The most important lesson from these workshops was that a woman who has been subjected to violence needs both psychological and legal support at the same time. I must be very careful in how I communicate with the woman [who seek WCO’s support], how I sit, my body language, and the words I choose when talking with her. I learned that reassuring a woman [who was subjected to violence] by using statement like “I understand you” or “I know how you feel” is a wrong practice as these phrases might be negatively received by the woman, as she might feel that the person receiving her complaint [will not feel her] as he/she has not experienced what she went through, and that could make her react in a defensive way.

I also learned that I should not empathize with the complainant/woman subjected to violence in the way I thought was natural. For example, I cannot offer her support through hugging or patting her, because she is in a state of shock, and that might make her feel in pain or afraid.

The nature of my work needs attention and concentration, especially when dealing with difficult cases related to sexual or physical violence. But with continuous training, I learned how to handle each case with its special details, whether through filing reports to the Public Prosecution or by referring the cases to the relevant authorities such as the Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Justice. I now have a deeper understanding of the law and the required procedures, but also, I am aware of the human side of these cases.

Through our work at WCO, we have a huge network of partnerships with many governmental and private entities, such as the Public Prosecution, which follows major cases related to physical violence and harassment, as well as our networks with volunteer lawyers who help provide legal support to women in courts. Every case we handle is a story of struggle and hope, and every lawyer and psychologist working with us carries a great responsibility in supporting these women to achieve their rights.

One of the biggest challenges we face in our work is the significant delay in reporting incidents. Most women subjected to violence are late in reporting cases, which makes it difficult to collect evidence and testimonies in a timely manner. The longer it takes to report a case, the harder it gets to achieve justice. This encourages me to work on raising awareness about the importance of early reporting and the significance of legal and psychological support at this sensitive stage.

And speaking of the challenges, one of the issues I deal with continuously is economic violence. Many women suffer from financial problems, whether due to losing their jobs or because they have fallen into the trap of informal loans. This type of violence may be invisible or indirect, but it severely impacts a woman's life. Therefore, at the National Council for Women, we work on empowering women economically by training them on mastering specific crafts and businesses to provide them with a sustainable income. We also offer them trainings on how to financial management and how to secure loans safely.

What makes me grateful for my work as a lawyer at WCO are those moments when I see the woman in front of me regaining her strength and beginning to see her life from a new perspective. When I can help her both psychologically and legally and see her taking steps towards recovery, I feel that I have contributed to something meaningful. I always want to be part of these stories of recovery and success, and I want to continue offering support to every woman in need. Legal work is not just about defending rights, but about regaining hope and rebuilding lives.

My work is not easy, but it is indescribably rewarding. I have learned that the best way to support a woman is to listen to her sincerely, understand her needs, and provide her with the tools to help her regain her dignified life. Sometimes, words are few, but actions make a real difference in the lives of these women."

The Women’s Complaints Office of the National Council for Women aims to provide legal and psychological support to women facing any form of violence, discrimination, or rights violations. The office serves as a primary resource for women seeking help and support, assisting them in navigating legal procedures and providing a platform for them to report their complaints. The office can be contacted through various channels, such as the dedicated hotline number (15115), WhatsApp number (01007525600), the council's website, or by visiting one of the council's branches across Egypt. The office also collaborates with several governmental and non-governmental entities to ensure comprehensive support is provided to women in need.

The trainings and workshops attended by Nancy were implemented as part of the partnership between UN Women Egypt, the National Council for Women, and the European Union, which aims to end violence against women and girls in Egypt by raising awareness and enhancing the services provided to women subjected to violence.