Dr. Ahmed El-Gebaly, member of the Health Committee in Egypt’s House of Representatives, stated that the proposed Personal Status Law is still under review and has not yet been officially presented before Parliament, expecting the legislation to be finalized within the next three to four months.
Speaking during a televised interview on Al Hadath Al Youm TV channel, El-Gebaly explained that reducing the custody age serves the best interests of children, describing them as the “weakest party” within family disputes.
He stressed that children should maintain regular contact with their fathers, noting that fathers provide emotional and personal support that mothers cannot fully replace, “and vice versa.”
El-Gebaly also emphasized the importance of officially recognizing overnight visitation rights for fathers, describing the issue as “extremely important.” He pointed out that many fathers suffer emotionally due to being unable to regularly see their children, especially in cases where the other party delays or prevents visitation.
“There must be a strong legal mechanism available to fathers when they are denied access to their children, so they can obtain their rights,” he said, stressing that the matter ultimately serves the child’s welfare rather than targeting women.
Commenting on criticism that the draft law heavily favors women, El-Gebaly responded: “That is true to some extent, but women remain the more vulnerable side, and the law supports them so they can secure their rights, support themselves, and raise their children properly within society.”
He concluded by stressing that the core objective of the Personal Status Law is to protect children’s interests, ensuring they are not exposed to instability while guaranteeing financial support, education, and healthy relationships with both parents.
