Egypt's Justice Minister Mahfouz Saber signed on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding with the Regional Office for the Middle East of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and North Africa on strengthening criminal justice responses to violence against women in Egypt.

The MoU aims to develop models about ways of preventing violence against women and girls as well as creating violence-free communities.

It also seeks upgrading the role of Egyptian institutions, such as the Justice Ministry, in combating violence against females.

The two sides also agreed to organize training courses for judges, public prosecutors, and forensic specialists on cases of violence against women.