Human Rights For Child
Egypt
is taking steps towards improving children’s human rights around the country,
however these are only baby step and there is a lot that needs to be done. The
first thing that Egypt has done to improve their human rights with in the past
few years is increasing the minimum legal age for marriage. It used to be that for
boy the age was 18 and girls 16. Child marriage violates human rights because
it affects the children’s chance of education, freedom from violence,
consensual marriage, and sexual health. Although there is a new law passed for
this child marriage is still happening all around Egypt, 11% a year. Adoption
is illegal in Egypt so there was a law that made it so children under the age
of 2 could not be raised by a foster family or “alternative care”. This age has
now been lowered to three months so the children get better cared for at a
younger age. Children have been put on trial as adults and because of
overcrowding they are stuck in makeshift detention facilities or prison where
they can be assaulted by guards and the adult inmates. In 2008, Egypt banned
female genital mutilation, which is a common religious practice and can cause
serious harm to the female even resulting in death. Although this is banned, the
government doesn’t actually investigate and prosecute those of who practice
this still. The government needs to take charge and put strategies into place
to make sure that this practice is not continued. I strongly believe that it is
the government’s duty to take care of its children and make sure that they are
safe and getting the necessary needs to be healthy. Making laws that band things
and changing the legal marriage age is a good start however nothing will get
done unless these laws are actually enforced and investigated.
Eliana Berger
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