UNICEF Executive Director commends Egypt’s progress towards Millennium Development Goals
CAIRO/GENEVA/NEW YORK, February 20, 2007 – UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman today ended a three-day visit to Egypt which included discussions with government officials and other partners on ways of advancing children’s issues in the country. “Egypt is well on track to meeting the Millennium Development Goals,” said Veneman. “These include universal primary education, and reducing child and maternal mortality.” She noted that the country’s current strong rate of economic growth should assist in reaching other MDG targets as well. In discussions with the First Lady of Egypt, Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, the prime minister, Mr Ahmed Nazif, and other interlocutors, Veneman underlined UNICEF’s commitment to supporting efforts to assist children most at risk of violence and abuse. Veneman met a group of such youngsters during a visit to a centre for street children run by the NGO Caritas in Giza governorate, on the outskirts of Cairo. She was shown literacy classes, craftwork and other activities organized for the boys and girls who come to the centre daily. “It’s encouraging to see the work being done to help vulnerable children,” said Veneman. “Where possible these children need to be reintegrated with their families and get back into school.”
In 2003, under the leadership of Egypt’s first lady, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood launched a national strategy to protect and rehabilitate street children. Since then, UNICEF has worked extensively with partners in government and non-governmental organizations dealing with Egypt’s most vulnerable children. Veneman took the opportunity of an audience with the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Tantawi, to discuss the issue of female genital cutting. Last November, Al Azhar hosted a conference “Ending Violence Against the Women’s Body” which conveyed the message that the “continuation of FGC is based on socio-cultural beliefs and not on Islamic religious grounds”. Veneman noted that Egypt was taking important steps to ensure that a future generation of girls would not be subjected to the harmful practice of FGC. Veneman met several other senior Egyptian and Arab officials during her mission, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Minister of International Cooperation, Fayza Aboulnaga, and the Secretary General of the Arab League, Mr. Amr Moussa.
Simon Ingram, Communication Officer, UNICEF Egypt + 202-526-5083 ext 210
Video Arabic Press Release Excerpts from the press conference Read excerpts from the Press Conference by UNICEF Executive Director, Ann M. Veneman at the Syndicate of Journalists, Cairo, Egypt [Word] |
