Cairo
23/3/2015
The Egyptian Center for women’s rights (ECWR) welcomes the court ruling confirming mother’s right in issuing birth certificates for her children
The Administrative Court in Alexandria ruled confirming the right of Egyptian mother to issue the birth certificates for her children. ECWR welcomes this step as a new guarantee for the Egyptian mothers, a victory for their rights and a reflection of the 2014 Constitution, which obliged the state to maintain maternity and childhood rights.
A mother filed a report when her husband approached the Health Bureau to inform them of not registering his female newly born child without his presence or the presence of his brother because of some matrimonial disputes between the father and his wife. The wife then resorted to the police department filing this report. The court ruled supporting the mother’s right to issue the birth certificate so that the child is not deprived from the right to have a legal personality as a result of some matrimonial disputes.
This court ruling is considered to be the result of the efforts of civil society organizations supporting women’s rights as they consistently demand women’s access to their rights which already exist in the constitution.
Hence, ECWR calls for incorporating all the constitutional articles concerning women’s rights to be part of the legislation as applicable and enforceable laws. ECWR also calls for legal guarantees to protect women and children.
