Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine El-Kabbaj signed, on Wednesday, a cooperation protocol with Cristina Albertine, Regional Director of the United Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for The Middle East And North Africa.
The protocol, which comes as a cooperation partnership between the two sides, will see the ministry and UNODC work together to develop Egypt’s social welfare institutions.
Included in the protocol is the development of the penal institution in the Cairo district of El-Marg, and the improvement of conditions for the detention of minors.
The cooperation protocol aims to promote the development of 10 institutions for the care and development of their employees, and to develop automated databases that include all children in primary care. It also attaches special importance to integrating children into society.
El-Kabbaj said that Egypt is interested in addressing the care of minors, whether they live with their parents, with foster families or in care institutions.
The minister asserted that Egypt has been a leader in signing and ratifying international conventions on children’s rights.
She hailed the ministry’s partnerships with the Ministries of Justice, Interior, and Health and Population, as well as the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood. These have worked to promote programmes aimed at minors in Egypt, and have focused on investing in people as one of the important aspects to achieve sustainable development.
Meanwhile Albertine said that UNODC has signed the agreement to provide children with the best services and protection. She asserted that UNODC tries to ensure rehabilitation, empowerment and integration for children after their release from penal institutions
She praised the relationship between UNODC and Egypt’s Ministry of Social Solidarity, which will result in the development of 20 institutions during the next five years.
The two sides have agreed that the ministry shall undertake the implementation of rehabilitation programmes and the reintegration of children into institutions. The Ministry of Social Solidarity is committed to the continued provision of training and production materials to enable children to obtain certified professional certificates that qualify them to enter the labour market.
As for UNODC, it is committed to developing existing workshops in institutions, establishing other workshops, supporting existing rehabilitation programmes as well as developing the data management system.
