New Initiative Combats Child Marriage in Egypt

Egypt’s National Council for Childhood and Motherhood is set to launch a pilot programme offering vocational and technical training for girls as part of efforts to curb child marriage, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund.

The initiative is designed to provide economic alternatives that reduce vulnerability to early marriage by equipping participants with income-generating skills aligned with labour market needs.

The pilot will combine training in traditional heritage crafts with modern technological skills, with the model intended to be tested initially before being adapted and expanded across governorates according to local economic conditions.

Officials involved in the programme said the approach links economic empowerment with broader child protection objectives. Alongside the training initiative, the council is coordinating with the Ministry of Justice and religious institutions to prepare a legal framework that would criminalise child marriage.

While current legislation prevents the official registration of marriages involving individuals under the age of 18, the proposed framework would introduce penal consequences for those involved in arranging or facilitating such marriages.

The council has identified economic vulnerability, school dropouts and child labour as key drivers of early marriage.

Preventive measures linked to the pilot include awareness programmes for child protection units, community educators and non-governmental organisations, as well as continued intervention through the national child helpline in reported cases.