withrespect totraditions and c~stoms, andthathadtheeffectofreducing delinquency. 65.Thelawpunished actsofviolence against womenwhether inthehomeor outside. Domestic violence wasalsoconsidered grounds foradivorce initiated by thewife,sincepropertreatment wasoneoftheconditions forsustaining a marriage inaccordance withKoranic precepts. Thedifficulty encountered bywomen inobtaining adivorce wasduenottoIslambuttoprevailing traditions and customs. Inthatconnection, Al-Hagg, thejournal oftheUnionofArabLawyers, shouldbecommended forhavingpublished intwospecial issues anumberofthe paperspresented attheFirstInternational Conference ofArabandAfrican Women, heldatCairoinFebruary 1985,inordertoassist womeninasserting theirlegal rights. 66.UnderthePenalCode,rapewaspunished byhardlabourorhardlabourfor life.Iftheperpetrator wasapersoninaposition oftrustinrelation tothe victim, anemployee ofsuchapersonoranemployee ofthevictimherself, thenthe penalty washardlabourforlife. 67.Femalecircumcision continued tobepractised incertain Egyptian villages. Thecustom wasanancient one,although ithadnobasisinreligion; itwasfalling outofuseandhaddisappeared inthecities andamongtheeducated classes. I...CEDAW/C/SR.164 English Page13 (Mr.Galal, Egypt) Article 13 68.Womenhadfulleconomic rights andcoulddispose ofproperty independently, buyandsellandgiveandreceive loanswithout anydiscriminatory restrictions. Article 14 69.Working conditions inthecountryside weregenerally notsubject to regulation, whether formenorwomen. Attempts werebeingmadetoimprove the situation ofwomenthrough projects fortheiradvancement andtheestablishment of some259clubs,butmuchremained tobedone. Thegreatchanges takingplacein ruralsociety astheyrelated towomenwere:theincreasing numberofhealth centres andfamilyplanning centres; thegreater numberoftelevision setsand increased viewership; andtheintroduction ofmoderndomestic appliances suchas washing machines andstoves. Asaresultofthosechanges, ruralwomenhada heightened awareness andtheburdenofhousehold choreshadbeenreduced. 70.Thechiefconsequences ofthemigration ofmenhadbeengreater family dependence onwomenandtheirenhanced leadership anddecision-making roleand increased self-confidence. Thenegative consequences hadbeenagrowing incidence ofdivorce, sexualdeviation andfamilybreak-up. 71.Womencouldindeed ownland,andtheirinheritance rightsextended toall formsofmovable andrealproperty. TheGovernment recognized therightofwomen working inagriculture toorganize co-operatives. Suchco-operatives wereformen andwomenequally, without discrimination. Ithadtobeadmitted thathealth services andfamilyplanning schemes inruralareaswerelesseffective thanthey wereincities. Article 15 72.Thetreatment accorded bythecourts wasequalformenandwomen. Womencould bewitnesses, butthetestimony ofawomanwasconsidered tohaveonehalfthe weightofthatofaman.Thatwasamatter governed bycertain religious prescriptions, anditwascurrently underdiscussion inIslamic andsecular jurisprudence. Menandwomenhadequalaccesstolegalservices. Womencould conclude contracts intheirownnameandhadfullandindependent financial competence. Theycouldbothsueandbesued. Article 16 73.Consent onthepartofthewomanwasapre-condition formarriage and,inits absence, themarriage wasinvalid. Socialinfluences did,however, playapartin thedecision tomarry, andthatwasamatter governed byindividual andfamily relations andbytradition. Theageofmajority wasthesameforall,butthe minimum ageformarriage was18formenand16forwomen. Thelawrequired that marriages anddivorces should beregistered iftheyweretohavelegaleffect, and thatwasasecular procedure. Womenhadthesamerightsasmenwithregardto /...CEDAW/C/SR.164 English Page14 (Mr.Galal, Egypt) trusteeship andguardianship ofchildren. Adoption, however, wasprohibited since itconflicted withIslamic lawandEgyptian positive law.Therewasnevertheless thepractice ofhadanah, underwhichthechildreceived fullcarewithout bearing thenameoftheguardian andwithout having anyofthelegaleffects offiliation. 74.Afteradivorce, thewomancouldhavecustody ofamalechilduptotheageof 10,extendable uptotheageof15withtheagreement ofthecourt, andofagirl childuptotheageof12,extendable uptotheageofmarriage ont~esame condition. Thepercentage ofwomenwhohadaclauseinserted intothemarriage
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the social and legal status of women in Egypt, focusing on their rights, traditions, and customs. It touches on various aspects such as education, employment, inheritance, and family law, which suggests a strong connection to the categories related to human rights, social development, and education.

**Category**
Education, Employment, Humanitarian aid and relief