Lawmaker's proposal to place street children in camps stirs controversy
A proposal from a member of parliament to detain street children in training camps has caused alarm among rights advocates, highlighting a negative perception toward the vulnerable minors — an outlook that has been reinforced by their portrayal in the media as thugs and criminals.
A controversial plan put forward by an Egyptian member of parliament to round up street children and place them in training and rehabilitation camps overseen by retired army officers has alarmed children's rights advocates.
"The phenomenon of street children is a serious challenge that, if left unchecked, can become a ticking time bomb," lawmaker Ayat El Haddad warned during a parliamentary hearing with Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine Kabbaj in early February.
El Haddad's idea of placing street children in rehabilitation camps was inspired by a similar initiative undertaken by Mohamed Ali (considered the founder of modern Egypt) two centuries ago. The Albanian Ottoman governor, who ruled the country from 1805 to 1848, reportedly gathered some 300,000 street children and placed them in a desert camp in the south of the country where they were trained by master craftsmen.
"The proposed camp would not only help build the capacities of street children, it would also deepen their sense of belonging in their communities, helping counter the threat they pose to society," she said.
