Participants in the Dr. Nabil Samuel Forum at the National Council for Women called for activating the law “criminalizing child marriage” and reopening the legal file on this critical issue.
The NCW’s Forum held its regular meeting under the chairmanship of Dr. Azza Kamel, alternate rapporteur of the National Organizations and Forum Committee, with the participation of many female and male members, to discuss the issue of child marriage via video conference technology.
Dr. Azza Kamel underlined the importance of confronting the crime of “child marriage,” as it is one of the crimes that has been combated for many years because of its negative impact on the lives of children and society as a whole.
She further stressed the need for concerted efforts of all concerned parties with civil society to activate the state’s efforts in its measures to combat this crime.
Representative Ahmed Bilal Al-Burlusi, a member of the forum, reviewed all the draft laws proposed to combat child marriage during the recent period, while Counselor Moataz Abu Zaid, another member, presented the procedural part of the law and the ambiguity of punishment for crimes with a social dimension and its consequences.
On his part, Sabri Othman reviewed the role of the Child Helpline of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood in confronting this crime.
The ACT Wacare Egypt Foundation and the New Women Foundation concluded the meeting by presenting the role of civil society and its expertise in addressing the issue.
