Mrs. Mubarak announces initiative to protect street children

Egypt's First Lady Suzanne Mubarak, Chairperson of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM), called Monday for establishing a fund to support the national strategy of combating the phenomenon of "street children."

Addressing the one-day conference on street children, organised by the (NCCM) and the UN International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Mrs. Mubarak said that Egypt pays due attention to children, who will take the torch of the development process in the days ahead.

Mrs. Mubarak further said the NCCM has advanced by leaps and bounds in combating this phenomenon, noting that the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) stand shoulder to shoulder to put an end to such a phenomenon.

Mrs. Mubarak also announced the national strategy for protecting and rehabilitating those children, pointing out that the strategy was aimed primarily at bringing those children into the fold of the Egyptian society, so that they could help build a better future for their country instead of remaining idle energies.

On the other hand, President Hosni Mubarak issued a Republican decision on reforming the (NCCM) following the end of its first 3-year term. The decision provided that Mrs. Mubarak will preside ever the Council due to meet this week to discuss some topics including a program designed to develop the status of women in Minya governorate.