The BA Witnesses the Official Launch of the Child Protection Program in Alexandria
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Alexandria—
On 17 June 2008, the BA witnessed the official launch of the Child Protection Program in Alexandria, which was led by UNICEF, with the cooperation of a number of NGOs, and under the umbrella of the National Foundation for Family and Community Development (NFFCD), and under the auspices of General Adel Labib, Governor of Alexandria.
The event began by reviewing the most important results of the Child Protection Program during April 2006 - March 2008, in three districts; West, East and Montazah in Alexandria.
Dr. Erma Manoncourt, UNICEF Country Representative in Egypt, stated that the results achieved so far have been possible only by genuine commitment and strong coordination and partnership between all the different actors who believed in the importance of creating a mechanism that would systematically monitor the situation of children and refer them to the appropriate services.
Dr. Manoncourt also added that the Program aims at identifying children in squatter and low income areas who are at risk of abuse, dropping out of school, working at an early age or even becoming street children. The Project asses their situation through social workers and local monitoring committees and provide them with the necessary services and support.
Dr. Manoncourt pointed out that around 8000 children at risk and their families were served over the past two years through strong networking among governmental and non-governmental concerned agencies. Building on the success of the Program, it is planned to expand to cover the fourth district during 2008, with the aim to reach six districts in Alexandria by 2011.
The implementation and scaling-up of the Child Protection Program is now reinforced by recent passing of the amendments to the Child Law. The important amendments set the protective framework for children at risk and overall family support. Articles 97 and 98 in the amended child law stipulates the creation of a committee in each governorate and following up on its implementation. Sub-committees will monitor cases of children at risk and provide preventive and protective interventions.
Dr. Manoncourt stressed the fact that this event is not only intended to shed light on the successful experience of Alexandria in pioneering the implementation of this Program, but also to discuss ways to expand the implementation at the national level. A seminar was held during the one day event, attended by experts on child protection from both government and civil society, to discuss the role of each agency and the means of sustaining and expanding this program including engaging new actors such as the private sector.
The Governor of Alexandria, welcomed the UNICEF representatives, and thanked them for their efforts in child protection and giving children a better life. At the end of his address he stated that child protection needs the efforts of civil society and private sector.