Department

Public Policy Hub

Description or Abstract

Egypt has a strategic geographical position as a significant destination and transit country for unaccompanied and separated migrant children (UASC). With a substantial and rapidly increasing migrant population, exacerbated by recent regional influxes, the country’s public infrastructure and resources are experiencing considerable strain. While Egypt has demonstrated its commitment to child rights through the ratification of key international instruments like the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), UASC in the country nonetheless face complex protection challenges, including legal visibility concerns, risk for exploitation, and barriers to social inclusion. The actual number of UASC may also exceed official registrations, influenced by factors such as under-registration and administrative considerations.

In addressing these complexities, the Egyptian government has undertaken several commendable initiatives to enhance UASC protection. Notably, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) developed comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in 2020, establishing a structured national approach for case management and essential service provision, in line with both national legislation and international obligations. Further progress is evident in the new national asylum law enacted in November 2024, which prioritizes vulnerable individuals and offers fee exemptions for services, along with the Ministry of Interior (MOI)’s decision to extend residence permit validity to one year, thereby fostering greater stability and access. The launch of the Egypt Refugee and Resilience Response Plan (ERRRP) in June 2025 further signifies a proactive national leadership role in addressing refugee needs.

Despite these significant advancements, opportunities exist to further strengthen the current protection framework and its implementation. Administrative processes, such as the ongoing transition of Refugee Status Determination (RSD) to local authorities and resource limitations affecting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), can contribute to registration delays and impact service accessibility. From a legal perspective, the framework’s evolution and the application of international conventions, alongside practical aspects of residence permit processes, present persistent challenges, especially for UASC. Service provision, currently relying significantly on the vital contributions of international and non -governmental organizations, could benefit from further integration into state systems to ensure more equitable and sustainable support. This policy paper comprehensively examines these areas for development across legal, administrative, and service provision frameworks, proposing actionable reforms to strengthen institutional coordination, standardize care practices, and further align child protection efforts with Egypt’s broader developmental priorities. This is through expanding the national family-based alternative care system to include refugee and migrant UASC, developing child-friendly asylum-seeking procedures, and formalizing Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) for UASC support.

Keywords

protection, children, separated, unaccompanied, migrant, migration, UASC

Faculty Advisor

Mohamed Elkaramany

Content Type

Other

Extent

52

Language

eng

Publisher

The Public Policy Hub, GAPP School

Publisher Location

The American University in Cairo

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