UN condemns rapes during Tahrir Square protests, demands action

Washington - United Nations officials have deplored reports that 25 women were sexually assaulted during protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and demanded that Egypt’s authorities take steps to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The executive director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women said the agency ‘is deeply disturbed by the gravity of recent attacks against women’.

According to news24, Michelle Bachelet called on Egyptian authorities to protect women and punish those responsible for the attacks.

About 25 women were reportedly sexually assaulted during demonstrations in Tahrir in recent days.

High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said she deplored the attacks and the fact that authorities have failed to prevent them or bring the perpetrators to justice, the report added.