and murder of Italian student Giulio Regeni in Egypt in 2016 can proceed in Italy. Proceedings had stalled because Egypt concealed the addresses of the suspects to prevent serving them notices of their trial. GENDER-BASED DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE Women continued to face discrimination in law and practice, including in matters of marriage, divorce, child custody and political office. Long-promised amendments to the Personal Status Law stalled amid concerns over lack of meaningful consultation with all women human rights defenders. The authorities failed to adequately prevent gender-based violence by state and non-state actors, amid a proliferation of reports in Egyptian media of killings of women by family members or rejected suitors. Women were prosecuted for speaking out against sexual violence or on “morality” grounds. In November, an appeals economic court quashed a two-year prison sentence against model and TikTok influencer Salma Elshimy and fined her for “immoral” content “violating Egyptian family values”. At least three women influencers remained imprisoned on “morality”-related or other bogus charges. The authorities continued to harass and prosecute individuals on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Several of them reported beatings and other abuse in police custody. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RIGHTS Egypt’s severe economic crisis had devastating effects on people’s access to socio-economic rights. The government allocated about half of the 2023/2024 budget to debt repayment and failed to meet the constitutionally mandated allocation of at least 3% and 6% of GDP to health and to basic and higher education, respectively. After a deal reached with the International Monetary Fund in late 2022 to float the Egyptian pound, the currency lost significant value. By February, annual inflation hovered 158 around 40%. Food prices rose by 68% between August 2022 and July 2023, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). According to a senior CAPMAS employee, the poverty rate rose significantly in 2022/2023, increasing the urgency for the government to adjust its social protection programmes. The government failed to take adequate steps to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis on people’s rights, especially to an adequate standard of living. In September, the president announced an increase in the monthly minimum wage for public sector workers from 3,500 to 4,000 Egyptian pounds (USD 114-130), which economic rights experts considered incommensurate with inflation, and the authorities failed to act against private companies not paying the minimum wage. In September, the president said “hunger and deprivation” were acceptable sacrifices for development and progress. WORKERS’ RIGHTS The authorities continued to impede and intimidate striking workers seeking better pay or working conditions. In October, security forces prevented striking workers from the Universal Group for Home Appliances from gathering near the company’s headquarters in 6 October city, and warned them against complaining to the Ministry of Manpower. The NSA also summoned and questioned some of the workers about the strike. At least 14 teachers remained detained pending investigations into terrorism-related charges after they protested in October in the New Administrative Capital in Cairo governorate over their exclusion from appointments. Candidates for civil servant jobs complained about being denied certificates of completion of the military academy course, which became mandatory for appointments in 2023, on security grounds or for being pregnant or overweight. The State of the World’s Human Rights