Egypt's Premier Ibrahim Mahlab said on Monday that his government is adopting a new strategy to combat violence against women, Al-Ahram’s Arabic news website reported.

Mahlab, who attended a conference held by Egypt's National Council for Women (NCW), asserted that violence against women would be firmly countered.

NCW Head Mervat El-Tellawy noted during the conference that the premier’s attendance was in line with Egypt's new leadership which, she held, aims to face society's problems.

During the event, a number of protocols were established between the NCW and a number of ministries: the health ministry is to ensure that women who were subjected to violence receive appropriate medical care and the justice ministry is to issue the necessary laws against perpetrators.

El-Tellawy added that the council's newly adopted strategy is precautionary, as it works on spreading awareness of the problem and the legal means to combat it.

She offered Mahlab the NCW's honourary shield in recognition of his role in facing violence against women.

A number of steps have been taken by Egypt's current authorities to end violence, along with other crimes, committed against women.

Egypt's interior minister ordered in June that a new department be formed to combat crimes against women in collaboration with the ministry's human rights department.

In May, Egypt's cabinet introduced a national plan, as well as a new law, to combat the widespread sexual harassment of women in the country.