Annual Report of The National Council for Human Rights

Chapter Five - Cont.
Human Rights Practices in Egypt For 2004

Children Rights :

In terms of children rights, the constitution created in 1971 has addressed in articles 10 and 17 the rights of children. In article 10 it required that the state must offer the protection needed for the right of life, the right of existence and the right of growth. Whereas article 17 required the state to provide health insurance for the children. Nevertheless, Egypt has entered into many international agreements regarding the protection of the children's rights.

Through the last two decades the Egyptian government has reinforced its efforts to provide for and attain children rights. To ensure the rights of children the president of Egypt and his honored wife have exerted massive efforts in ensuring that the children's rights were attained. Where in 1989 they have signed the declaration regarding the protection of the child, while in 1991 they have signed the Egyptian children rights declaration. In 1996 the state published law number 12 regarding the rights of children, which ensured the basic principles for the protection, and promoting of the children hobbies and interests, providing health insurance, food , education and providing social care. While attempting to but a limit to the underage children working. In its continuous efforts the government extended the heath insurance to school students as well as newly registered born infants. The government supported different health institutions aiming at protecting children's health.

Nevertheless the state has played a vital role in reforming the educational process. It made education free to all especially in the main primary levels of education. Where in the year of 2005 the president renewed the states promise to provide free education. On the other hand the state has made great efforts in eliminating the gabs between male and female enrolment in schools and between modern and the rural cities, while constantly reforming the educational process.

The year 2004 was characterized by the continuing efforts in protecting the children. This was witnessed through the support and protection of the girls and females while concentrating the efforts on the cases of attaining Children and women rights. This was accomplished by the support of different ministries and organizations specialized in the civil society

In this context there has been many projects made for promoting the rights for the child and the women in the social environment. From these projects are the project for the national council for the motherhood and child, the project for creating friendly type of schools for the girls, the national project for eliminating female genital cutting, the project for promoting and supporting the talents, the project for providing care to girls in need of special care, the project for girls health, the project for protecting the young from the effects of drugs, and efforts are being made in finding strategic planes to support children with no homes. While there are continued efforts in supporting schools especially made for those in need of special care.

However, there has still been more request for finding solution to homeless children. It is estimated that there are approximately 3 million homeless children living in the streets, on side walks, on railroads, and below bridges. These children in turn are always at constant grave risk, ranging from drug use to sexual exploitation, leading them to the paths of crimes.⁽²⁴⁾

From the crimes that grabbed the attention of the general public was the sexual abuse of the children in Norhan Kindergarten. In this case it was reported that the owner of the kindergarten facility and two more have sexually abused the innocent children whom were under the age of five. At this point the general police took the responsibility of the case and followed up on whether these children were sexually abused or not. After four days of the three fathers complains regarding their children, it was reported that there has not been any signs of abuse. However on April 7th thirty nongovernmental organization have donated their efforts in order to restore the health of the victims. From those who supported in this effort where persons of great expertise in the field of medical school of Al Azhar and Cairo Universities in which they found that victims were abused sexually disregard less of the suspect. They have reported that they investigated the matter clinically and through electric vibrations. The case however progressed in courts.

The effects of this case had profound results where increase call on the government to take the necessary administrative and judicial steps in reforming the underage prisons took place. Especially after the discussion in the peoples assembly during the year 2004 and the report that illustrated the weak position of the administrative responsible for those underage prisons and the weak role it plays.⁽²⁸⁾ The report also stated breaking of articles 211, 212, 213, 215, and 218 regarding the rights of children in terms of the physiological state, the educational, and recreational factors.

In addition, the international organization of children rights requested that there be more reforming and adjusting of the children rights in Egypt especially for those with physical disabilities and need of special care. While the report called upon the government to apply different punishments for children on the basis of their age. In addition it called upon the state police to stop collecting the homeless children and rather provide them with institutions for treating these cases.

Other nongovernmental organizations have also called upon the government to provide more nutrition's to the children. In this context, the main talks about this case was regarding the small quantity of vitamin "A" provide to the children, in which a report by the UNISAFE indicated that 55 out of every 1000 children under the age of 15 are dieing due to the inadequate nutrition taken by children, and where 11% of children are stroked by Anemia.⁽²⁹⁾ There were also complains about the inadequate care of children in hospital. One of those complains were put forward by the father of Engy Mohamed Kareem, who complained to the secretary general that one of his daughter's kidneys was stolen during an operation in the hospital.⁽³⁰⁾

Furthermore, NGO's called upon the government to change article 103. This article concerns the employment of under aged children, yet it does not include those working in the rural areas in which, they constitute 75% of those working, this request was advanced after the falling of a truck that loaded 40 children of which 18 of them were girls ⁽³¹⁾taking them to work on agricultural fields 3 of those children died immediately 5 were in critical condition while the rest were effected by different fractions. This call was also extended by calling on protecting those children working in cotton fields and those who are forced by their parents to work.

 

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