Cairo: Ambassador Alaa Youssef, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the State Information Service (SIS), emphasized that words are not just a means of communication, but are an influential force in shaping public awareness, formulating societal concepts, and guiding individual and collective behavior, making them a key tool in upholding the values of respect, tolerance, and preserving human dignity. This statement was made during his speech at the opening of the media conference on combating mental health stigma and gender-based violence, organized by the Center for Economic, Legal and Social Studies and Documentation of the French Embassy in Cairo, under the title 'Words Matter'.
According to State Information Service Egypt, SIS chairman emphasized that the role of a responsible professional media is not limited to monitoring and covering issues but extends to becoming an active partner in changing negative stereotypes and opening spaces for conscious human dialogue. This contributes to confronting stigma and discrimination and promotes a culture of respect and acceptance within society.
Ambassador Alaa Youssef reviewed the efforts made by the Egyptian state under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in the field of women's protection and empowerment, noting that the state has adopted a comprehensive national approach based on the integration of developmental, rights, and social dimensions. He explained that this vision has been translated into several important national strategies, most notably the National Strategy to Combat Violence against Women, the National Strategy to Combat Female Genital Mutilation, and efforts to tackle the phenomenon of early marriage. These reflect the State's commitment to protecting women's rights and promoting their participation in various fields.
He also praised the pivotal role played by the National Council for Women in supporting the state's efforts in this area, noting legislative and institutional developments in recent years. These include the hardening of penalties for FGM and sexual harassment crimes, including cyber-harassment, the enhancement of data protection for survivors of violence, the establishment of 52 anti-violence units within Egyptian universities, and 24 safe clinics in university hospitals, along with leading awareness initiatives and campaigns.
Ambassador Alaa Youssef spoke about the role played by the State Information Service, through the internal media centers spread across all governorates, in educating citizens about mental health issues and combating violence and discrimination. Additionally, he acknowledged the role of the SIS at the international level in presenting facts to the foreign media and providing it with all data and information to highlight the developmental and human rights achievements realized in Egypt in an objective and balanced manner.
He called on the conference to come up with practical recommendations that would contribute to the development of media discourse towards mental health and gender-based violence issues, stressing the importance of training and qualifying media and content creators to handle these files with professional sensitivity and ethics, taking into account the psychological and social dimensions of those affected.
For her part, Ambassador Nabila Makram, Head of the Board of Trustees of the Fahim Foundation for Psychological Support, Head of the Technical Secretariat and Executive Director of the National Alliance for Civil Development Action, confirmed that the conference's slogan 'Words Matter' reflects an influential truth in the lives of mental patients and survivors of violence. She noted that improving the psychological and social environment begins with a responsible media discourse that supports recovery and rejects bullying and societal stigma. She stressed that mental illness is not a stigma, calling for integrated roles between the media, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and concerned national bodies to build a more aware and humane society.