High school students take part in a protest against the cancellation and postponement of exams after a series of exam leaks in front of the parliament in Cairo, Egypt, on June 27, 2016 (Photo: Reuters)
The Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social Rights stated in its annual report published on Monday that Egypt witnessed 1,736 protests in 2016 – a drop from the previous year – varying between labour, social and economic protests.
The centre defined social protests as demonstrations against certain living standards unrelated to economic issues, while economic protests are those involving demonstrations against the government’s economic policies.
According to the report, labour rights demonstrations came in first with 726 protests, reaching their highest numbers in February with 108 protests.
Protests over social issues came in second with 633 demonstrations, reaching their peak in September with 86 protests.
Demonstrations over economic issues came in third with 377 protests, reaching their highest rate in May with 59 protests.
The report stated that 2016 saw a reduced number of protests from the previous year – which saw 1,995 protests – attributing the decrease to “laws that restrict protests.”
Cairo ranked highest among the governorates that saw protests with a total of 454 demonstrations. Sharqiya governorate came in second with 128 protests, followed by Gharbiya governorate with 119.
The majority of labour protests took place within the public sector at 478 protests, followed by the public business sector at 133 and the private sector at 107 protests.
The report stated that the country saw 138 protests since the government's decision in early November to float the pound and raise key interest rates as part a reform plan aimed at alleviating the dollar shortage, eradicating the black market and stabilising the country's flagging economy.
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