Child Rights Advocates Speak Out in Egypt

Child rights advocates in Egypt, including UNICEF, have spoken out in defence of children caught up in civil violence.

Children’s rights and welfare advocates have expressed concern about the safety of Egypt’s youth in the context of ongoing civil discord. Activists say that children have been caught up in the clashes between protesters and police.

In light of this situation, activists have called for parties involved in the clashes to respect international human rights norms to help keep kids out of any danger.

“I have seen hundreds of children leading the fight against military and civilian policemen in violent clashes across the nation over the past months,” said Mahmud al-Badawai. Mr. al Badawai is both a lawyer and the chairman of the Egyptian Association for the Assistance of Juvenile and Human Rights, a non-governmental organization.

The USA's NPR reported that one in four protesters jailed after clashes last month were children, as street youth seeking to avoid isolation and obtain basic needs become involved in protests. One lawyer is said to be representing 82 such children who were arrested.

Egypt is also a state party to the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Convention is the most widely ratified human rights document in the world—all but two countries (the United State and Somalia) have ratified it. Under its auspices, children are entitled to specific protections in justice systems and are to be protected from violence such as cruel or inhuman treatment. African children are also protected under the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children.

“Too often children are caught up in the spiralling violence,” said Phillippe Duamelle, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative in Egypt, in a statement last month.

Since before the beginning of “Arab Spring,” and the uprisings that led to the ousting of long-time Egyptian ruler Hosni Mubarak, the safety and security of children (street children, in particular) has been a key children’s rights issue.

The UN’s Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) reported that children were caught up in the Tahir Square clashes in Egypt’s capital of Cairo on 23 November 2011. Most of the children involved in the violence there were living on the streets, said the network today.

Without parents or other guardians to protect them and provide their basic needs, these children remain vulnerable to violence and exploitation. Activists say that vulnerable young people should be made a priority by the National Salvation government.

UNICEF has urged authorities to respect their obligations regarding human rights under national and international law.

“They [children] should not be victims of violence nor unnecessary witnesses to violence,” said Mr. Duamelle.


(2012-01-06/soschildrensvillages.ca)