18-04-2025
National Council for Childhood foils marriage attempt of a 13-year-old girl in Sohag
CAIRO – 18 April 2025: The National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) foiled an attempted marriage of a 13-year-old girl in a village in Dar El Salam, Sohag Governorate.
This was done in cooperation with the Child Protection, Persons with Disabilities, and the Elderly Unit at the Public Prosecutor's Office, and in coordination with the Child Protection Unit in the governorate.
Chairperson of the NCCM, Sahar El Sonbaty, explained that the incident stemmed from a report received by the General Administration for Child Rescue in early April stating that the girl's father intended to marry her to one of her 18-year-old cousins. Investigation and follow-up confirmed the veracity of the incident, and confirmed that the girl intended to marry under a customary marriage contract until she reached the legal age.
The Council Chairperson directed that the necessary measures be taken quickly regarding the incident.
The governorate's Child Protection Unit took all necessary measures to halt the marriage proceedings. The father signed a declaration stating that the marriage would not be completed until the girl reached the legal age.
For his part, Sabry Othman, Director of the General Administration for Child Rescue, stated that this incident constitutes the crime of exposing a child to danger, in accordance with Article 96 of Child Law No. 12 of 1996, as amended by Law No. 126 of 2008. This is in addition to Article (80) of the Constitution, which stipulates the state's commitment to caring for children and protecting them from all forms of violence, abuse, and mistreatment.
The Civil Status Law prohibits the documentation of marriage contracts for anyone under the age of 18, regardless of gender.
