Advocating for Egypt's - and all of God's - children

One of the ways in which Presbyterians connect most effectively and passionately with partners around the world is through the diverse Networks that serve to unite Presbyterians across the U.S. who share a common international mission focus.

One such network is the Egypt Network for Joining Hands Against Hunger, called Together for Family Development (TFD).  That Network is accompanied by a Network in the Presbytery of Des Moines, which is actively engaged with it on behalf of Egypt’s children with disabilities.

Nancy Collins, who facilitates that accompaniment, has summarized the important work TFD has accomplished so far toward moving that country toward a new Child Law Amendment.

In June 2006, after a relatively lengthy process of gathering information and conducting studies concerning the situation of Egyptian children with disabilities and the laws governing their situation, TFD decided to advocate for a law that would more clearly state children with disabilities have the right to public education.  Existing laws are inconsistent; primary school principals routinely refuse admission of children with disabilities - both intellectual and physical.  The vast majority of disabled children receive no services and no education.

TFD learned in September 2006 that the National Council of Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM), the national body vested with the responsibility for developing laws to protect the rights of children, was working on amendments to the Child Law of 1996 to protect the rights of street children.  TFD retained an attorney to work with it to develop an amendment for inclusive education for disabled children.  TFD's proposed amendment was presented to and accepted by NCCM at a conference held in Alexandria in December 2006.

Throughout 2007, NCCM went through the process of refining the wording of multiple amendments to the 1996 Child Law based on input from multiple governmental organizations.  In addition to TFD's amendment for inclusive education for disabled children, amendments, among other things, raise the age of criminalization for street children from 7 to 12, support DNA analysis to identify the parentage of children whose fathers are unknown, and raise the age of marriage for girls from 16 to 18. As a result, TFD is supporting an entire, very important package of child rights amendments.

Concerned NGOs are now conducting a series of round tables with parliamentarians throughout Egypt to obtain their feedback and any concerns with the amendments. TFD member organizations are participating in this process by holding meetings with parliamentarians in the governorates of Cairo (February 26), Beni Suef (March 3) and Minia (March 6).  Once the meetings conclude at the beginning of March, the amendments will be introduced into Parliament for discussion and vote.

The Egypt Network for Joining Hands invites our prayers for guaranteeing and assuring the full rights of Egypt’s – and all of God’s – children.