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Obtaining official papers for those who have dropped out of the registry
The general goals of the project:
1) To provide training to local lawyers so that they can spread legal awareness among girls and women in the governorate of Sohag .
2) To provide training to NGO staff and members on how to obtain ID cards and how to deal with the governmental authorities .
3) To obtain a number of personal documents such as birth certificates for those who are not currently included in the civil registry .
The specific goals of the project:
-Providing legal services such as obtaining ID cards and birth certificates to 100 people in seven districts in Sohag over two years.
Carrying out the project:
CEWLA organized a workshop with the title: "The Concepts and Issues of Gender" that provided information on gender issues under the law. Out of 25 lawyers from various districts of Sohag, a number were chosen to train the staff of the organizations in how to obtain official documents and raise awareness concerning women's legal problems.
Another workshop was organized for 24 reporters, producers and editors from the governorates of Aswan, Sohag and Quena. It aimed to raise their awareness of women's legal issues. In addition, CEWLA held two training programs for members and staff of the NGOs, each lasting three days. With the help of trained lawyers, the members of the NGOs were informed about women's legal issues and the importance of obtaining official documents. Furthermore, it provided information on how to obtain documents. Moreover, 50 girls received training, 25 in each course. CEWLA also developed a training course to provide basic legal awareness for women. The course was held twice in the headquarters of seven different organizations, providing training to a total of 350 women.
Obstacles:
1) The number of people requesting issuance of personal documents (such as birth certificates, for example, for those who dropped out of the registry) is too high .
2) The birth certificates have to be issued from the place of birth, which creates a great difficulty for most women .
3) There is discrimination against women when issuing ID cards. Women are obliged to take their husbands or their fathers along with them in order to be able to obtain the cards. If the husband or the father refuses to come along, the woman will not be able to obtain an ID card. Such restrictions do not exist for men.
4) The employees working in the civil archive are often not precise enough when filling out applications, and this can cause great complications later.
5) The files in the civil archives are not kept safely. Often important data get lost and files get disrupted.
6) There is no place to record blood type on the ID card. This causes a lot of trouble in the case of an accident, when blood must be transferred immediately.
7) The national stamp that is necessary to obtain official papers is not always available both for women and men.
8) Some men do not approve of letting their wives, daughters and sisters out to obtain personal documents or to join the training courses.
9) The offices of governmental authorities that issue official documents are mostly far away from center of the state.
10) There is a shortage of money for helping beneficiaries to pay the fees to obtain personal documents.
11) The procedures for obtaining official papers are complicated and lengthy.
The results of the project:
1) Some women requested to become members of the Board of Directors of the Center.
2) Friendly relations developed between the different NGOs and the governmental authorities that deal with the issuing of official papers and documents.
3) Awareness of the importance of women's participation in voting has increased in the villages.
Women were also educated on the importance of their role and their participation in national efforts.
4) Seven women proposed to the NGOs working on the project that they should carry out more projects for women.
5) Legal awareness concerning women has been incorporated into the agendas of the NGOs working on the project.
6) A high number of girls joined the literacy classes since the NGOs gave priority to obtaining of papers.
Funded by : CEDA - Canda
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