Wednesday, 27 May 2026
A combined photo of the women who lost their lives in the accident, as appeared on social media.
Egypt accident raises alarm over women’s work safety
Cairo, Egypt – The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) in Egypt has expressed deep sorrow following a devastating accident in Menoufia Governorate, where eighteen young women tragically lost their lives and several others were injured.
The victims, from the rural village of Sanabsa in Ashmoun, were en route to their workplace when their transport overturned on the regional highway, exposing grave shortcomings in worker safety, particularly for women and girls in marginalized areas.
The accident has cast a stark light on the urgent need for stringent policies ensuring safe and dignified working conditions, especially for women and girls employed in Egypt’s rural communities. The NCHR lamented the fact that such tragedies result not only from inadequate transport but also from systemic gaps in safeguarding the fundamental rights to safe and fair work.
"This heartbreaking event must serve as a wake-up call for employers, authorities, and civil society alike," the Council stated. "We must unite to provide a workplace environment that preserves human dignity and ensures physical and psychological safety for all working women, especially the most vulnerable in society."
The Council highlighted several essential steps:
- Ensuring all workers, especially women, have access to safe and reliable transportation.
- Enforcing strict oversight of companies and institutions to prevent exploitation and demand adherence to basic safety and dignity standards.
- Advocating for alternatives to child labor by strengthening educational opportunities so that girls are not forced to work to afford schooling.
- Expanding social protection and social security for all female workers, regardless of their employment type or location.
- Placing the right to life and human dignity above all financial or economic considerations.
The NCHR has called for an immediate and transparent investigation into the causes of the accident, holding those responsible for negligence accountable, and providing compensation to the victims’ families. The Council also urged the development of a national action plan to prevent similar tragedies and to guarantee the right to safe and decent work for every woman, girl, and worker striving to support their families with dignity.