On the 24^th of May 2017, the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs and the National Council for Women held a conference concerning‘the role of women in supporting soft power’ at the Egyptian Opera House.

The conference was administered by Dr/ Mervat Abo Ouf, the professor of Mass communication and Journalism in the American University, where she started by welcoming those participating and emphasized that the conference coincides with President Sisi’s vision for 2017 as the ‘Year of Women’. She added that this vision reinforces the importance of the concept of soft power as a powerful weapon and a valuable wealth for Egypt, both internally and externally.

The conference was divided into 3 sessions that achieved the following recommendations:

• Forming a committee concerned with the soft power, consisting of prestigious figures in the fields of culture, arts, mass media, and the economy in both the Egyptian Council for foreign affairs and the National Council for Women. The committee shall aim at clarifying and spreading Egypt’s message abroad in addition to encouraging and following up with the activities of the soft power whether inside or outside of Egypt under the supervision of both councils.

• Providing wider promotion for ‘Taa’ Marboutah” campaign. The Egyptian embassies, specially the cultural offices in addition to the Egyptian information general association shall be responsible for explaining the campaign’s goals, its role in supporting the soft power, and providing relevant, occasional reports to both councils.

• Maintaining constant coordination between the National Council for Women, the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, concerned committees in the parliament and other civil society organizations with the aim of empowering women’s role in supporting the Egyptian soft power and achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030. 

• Supporting youth activity and initiatives, especially female youth activity that is concerned with the various fields of soft power through involving them in the activities of the National Council for Women and the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs.

• Supporting women’s role in micro, small and medium enterprises that are concerned with soft power activity in both rural and urban areas across Egypt in coordination with the ministry of planning and local development; these enterprises has a positive, tangible impact on economic and social growth.

• Establishing a strategy with the goal of empowering women’s role in the context of soft power as a part of achieving of the seventeen sustainable development goals by 2030 and accomplish security, stability and development.

• Coordinating between the National Media Authority and the African, Asian and European Radio Unions.

• Concluding a memorandum of understanding between the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs and the National Council for Women with the purpose of executing the former recommendation.