Sexual assaults on Egyptian female protesters have been led by organized gangs, the head of a government-backed women’s rights panel said, in what appears to be the first such acknowledgment by officials relating to crimes that have gained increasing prominence.

“All regulations since the revolution have undermined women’s rights,” said Mervat Tallawy, head of the state-run National Council for Women. “Now is the time we stand united, men and women, to end sexual harassment”.

For the first time, Egypt’s state-run National Council for Women has acknowledged sexual assaults on Egyptian female protesters and has called on the government to end sexual harrassment of protesters.