Egypt: Millions of children still living in poverty
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A study looking at the impact of poverty on children in Egypt reveals that while significant progress has been made, vulnerable children continue to face serious deprivations.
The study – Child Poverty and Disparities in Egypt: Building the social infrastructure for Egypt’s future – is the first such study in the country that looks at both childhood and poverty at the same time. It highlights Egypt’s gains for children, particularly on the legislative front, but notes that millions continue to live in poverty and face the risk of passing on this deprivation to their own children.
Some of its main findings include:
* More than 7 million children are deprived of one or more of their rights, which include the right to nutrition, water and sanitation facilities, access to basic health care services, shelter, education, participation and protection
* Around 5 million children are deprived of appropriate housing conditions
* Some 1.5 million children under the age of 5 suffer from health and food deprivations.
* Although poverty does not differentiate by sex, girls, especially in rural areas, are the least likely to attend school or complete their education.The study calls for increased investment in children to maintain the pace of Egypt’s continued progress and development. Children and their families should be made aware of child rights and of laws protecting these rights, and policies intended to address poverty among children should target children directly.
The study was commissioned by UNICEF and conducted by the Center for Economic and Financial Research Studies of the Cairo University. Its work was guided by a steering committee co-chaired by Moushira Khattab, Minister of State for Family and Population, and UNICEF.
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