Aisha Rateb

Aisha Rateb (February 1928 – 4 May 2013) was an Egyptian lawyer, politician, and Egypt's first female ambassador. She also was a professor of international law at Cairo University.

Aisha Rateb

Quotes

• To get my rights. I joined Huda Shaarawy’s association and other associations that were fighting for women’s rights. I was then only 21 but to no avail.
  • [1]

• I was the second Arab female ambassador after King Hassan’s sister. I was also not the first Egyptian ambassador to Europe; I was preceded by Hatshepsut, Nefertari and Nefertiti, those Egyptian queens who are well known the world over.
  • [2]

• No more than secretaries toeing the line and being assigned tasks instead of acting like ministers capable of initiating policies.
  • [3]

• A ban on entering the judiciary based on gender goes against Section forty

of the Egyptian constitution, which states that ‘‘citizens have equal rights and duties and there is no discrimination against them due to sex, origin, language, or ideology.

• • [4]
• I express my pleasure over Al Gebali’s appointment. It is like seeing the results of what I started.
  • Aisha Rateb speaking during an interview with English Today Magazine.