Human Rights Watch reported that at least 91 women have been raped in Tahrir Square, Cairo, in the past four days as demonstrators crowded the streets.
The New York group said on Wednesday that “mobs” in the streets perpetrated attacks on nearly 100 women, according to CBC. The human rights organization called upon authorities in Egypt to address the “climate of impunity” surrounding sexual crime.
One of the attacked was a Dutch journalist, reports U.S. News & World Report.
The many recent sexual crimes in Egypt “highlight the failure of the government and all political parties to face up to the violence that women in Egypt experience on a daily basis in public spaces,” says Joe Stork, HRW’s Middle East director.
“These are serious crimes that are holding women back from participating fully in the public life of Egypt at a critical point in the country’s development.”
As a result of the violent attacks—some were raped by groups of men, some with a knife or blade—many women have begun to fight against the trend of sexual assault.
Harassmap enables women to use technology and social media to raise awareness and alert others.
Cairo-based human resources executive Soraya Bahgat founded Tahrir Bodyguard, whose male and female members wear yellow vests and helmets as they patrol the protests to prevent women from being attacked. Other groups include “Operation Anti-Sexual Harassment” and the “I Saw Harassment” initiative.
In the past, the government has done little to prevent sexual assault or help its victims, blaming assaults on women participating in protests with large groups of women.
“Women should not mingle with men during protests,” said Reda Al-Hefnawy, a Freedom and Justice Party member. “How can the Ministry of Interior be tasked with protecting a lady who stands among a group of men?”
Above, men create a human shield to protect a group of demonstrating women from sexual assault.