UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Adele Khodr payed a three-day-visit to Egypt to discuss the substantial efforts done for children and youth in the fields of health and nutrition, social protection and inclusion, early childhood development and youth empowerment.
During the visit, Ms. Khodr met with different ministers, high-level government officials, and national and international counterparts.
“Egypt is a key country in the region when it comes to results for children and we count on its leadership to promote children rights,” said Ms. Khodr. “I commend Egypt’s renewed commitment and keenness to place the benefit of all children and youth in the country as a top priority.”
On her first visit to Egypt since she assumed her position as UNICEF Regional Director, Ms. Khodr met with Dr. Rania El Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Nevine El-Kabbag, Minister of Social Solidarity, Ambassador Khaled El Bakly, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Human Rights and International Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Ms. Elana Panova, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Egypt and a number of development partners.
In the same connection, Ms. Khodr commended the efforts made by Egypt in the vaccination against COVID-19.
She raised with the Egyptian officials the importance of ensuring that some key indicators for children, such as routine immunization, schooling and learning, do not slip back as this would impact the overall situation of children in the region.
Also, Ms. Khodr, participated in the launch of the “Guidebook for Correcting Negative Expressions and Images Circulating around Children in the Arab Media” under the auspices of H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, President of the Arab Council for Childhood and Development (ACCD) and the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND).
