The present law shall particularly ensure the following principles and rights:

a) The right of the child to life, survival, and development in a supportive family environment, to enjoy various preventive measures, and to be protected from all forms of violence, or injury, or physical, mental or sexual abuse, or negligence, or negligent treatment, or any other forms of maltreatment or exploitation.
b) The right to be protected from all forms of discrimination among children, on the basis of birth place, parents, sex, religion, race, disability, or on any other status, and ensure equal opportunities among children to benefit from all rights.
c) The right of the child who is able to form his own opinions, to access information which empowers him to form and express such opinions, and to be heard in all matters related to him, including judicial and administrative procedures, in accordance with the procedures specified by the Law.

The best interests of the child and his protection shall be a primary consideration in all decisions and procedures whatever the department or authority issuing or undertaking them.

Child education shall, for all educational stages target the following objectives:

1 - The development of the child’s personality, talents, and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential, taking into consideration that the educational programs conform to the child’s dignity, enhance his feelings of self worth, prepare him to participate in society and assume his responsibilities.

2 - The development of respect for the general rights and freedoms of human beings.

3 - The development of respect for the child’s parents, his cultural identity, his language, and his religious and national values.

4 - The development of the child’s sense of belonging and loyalty to his country, promote brotherhood, tolerance among human beings, and the respect of others.

5 - The consolidation of values of equality and non-discrimination among individuals on the basis of religion, sex, ethnicity, race, social origin, disability, or any other forms of discrimination.

6 - The development of respect for the natural environment and its preservation.

7 - The preparation of the child for responsible life in a united civil society where rights’ awareness are concomitant with commitment to duties.

Without prejudice to the provision of Article 18, paragraph 2, of the Law No.139 of 1981 on Education, children shall not be employed for work before reaching the age of fifteen (15) calendar years. Nor shall they be provided with training before they reach the age of thirteen
(13) years. Children of twelve (12) to fourteen (14) years of age may, by a decree from the concerned Governor and subject to the approval of the Minister of Education, be licensed for seasonal employment which has no harmful consequence to their health or growth, nor interferes with their school attendance.

The child shall be considered at risk if he is exposed to a situation threatening the soundupbringing that should be made available to him, or in any of the following cases:

1 - If the child’s safety, morals, health, or life is at risk.

2 - If the conditions surrounding the child’s upbringing in the family, or at school, or in care institutions, or others, places him at risk, or if the child is exposed to neglect, abuse, violence, exploitation, or vagrancy.

3 - If the child is unduly deprived of his rights, even partially, in terms of custody or in visiting either parent or whoever is rightfully entitled to visitation rights.

4 - If those responsible for covering the child’s expenses abandon him, or if the child loses his parents, or one of them, or if the child’s parents or his guardian abandon all responsibility towards him.

5 - If the child is deprived of basic education or if his educational future is at risk.

6 - If the child is exposed in the family, school, care institutions, or other to violence, or to acts contrary to public morals, or pornographic material, or to commercial exploitation of children, or to harassment or sexual exploitation, or to the illegal use of alcohol or narcotic substances affecting the mental state.

7 - If the child is found begging. Acts of begging include offering for sale trivial goods and services, or performing acrobatic shows and other activities not considered an appropriate source of living.

8 - If the child collects cigarette butts, or any other kinds of trash or waste.

9 - If the child has no permanent residence, or generally sleeps in the streets or in other unfit places for residence or accommodation.
10 - If the child mingles with deviants or suspected deviants, or with those known for their bad reputation.

11 - If the child behaves badly or revolts against his father’s authority or guardian or custodian or caregiver, or is against his mother’s authority in the case of the death, absence, or legal incapacity of his guardian. In this case, no measures shall be taken concerning the child, even if it is investigation procedures, unless there is a complaint
from his father, guardian, custodian, mother or caregiver according to the circumstances.

12 - If the child has no legitimate means of supporting himself or does not have trustworthy provider.

13 - If the child is physically, mentally or psychologically sick or mentally disabled, in a manner affecting his ability to perceive or chose, and where such illness or weakness would endanger his safety or that of others.

14 - If the child is under seven (7) years of age and committed a felony or a misdemeanor.

With the exception of the cases mentioned in Items 3 and 4, any person putting a child at risk shall be imprisoned for a period not less than six (6) months, and a fine of not less than two thousand (2,000) Egyptian pounds, and not exceeding five thousand (5,000) Egyptian
pounds, or by one of the two penalties