The National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) wasestablished in 1988 through Presidential Decree No. 54 as the highest government authority entrusted with policymaking, planning, coordinating, monitoring and evaluation of activities in the areas of protection and development of children. The jurisdiction of the NCCM extends to all government bodies, including the Ministry of Justice, and NGOs on both the national and local levels. The decree establishing the NCCM stipulates that its declarations are mandatory, that is NCCM decisions are final and binding for all ministries, authorities, local administration units and public sector in implementing plans, projects and programs set by the NCCM in the fields of childhood and motherhood. Over the course of the 1990s the NCCM has played a vital role in policy making, monitoring and co-ordinating actions in the best interests of children on the national and local levels. Its role and influence have grown with the increasingly broad recognition that Egypt’s children, all those from birth to age eighteen as stipulated under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), are its most valuable human resource for the 21st century. Renewed commitment, on the highest political level, to the survival, protection and development of children in Egypt was guaranteed by the declaration in February 2000 of the “Second Decade for the Protection and Welfare of the Egyptian Child” for the period (2000-2010) by President Mubarak. In some respects, the objectives of the Second Decade go beyond those of the CRC towards guaranteeing the survival, protection and development of children. That is, in addition to a call to improve child legislation, goals were set in the fields of education, health, and culture. Considering environmental protection is carefully thought about as a key factor in sustaining children’s welfare, the NCCM plans to integrate environmental protection in all its activities. Accordingly, the NCCM is undergoing a process of institutional development aimed at a higher level of efficiency and effectiveness in ensuring the survival, protection and development of children in the country.
Objectives:
- The tasks of the National Council for Childhood & Motherhood encompass a multitude of social sectors and include the following:
1. Setting developmental orientations for the national plan pertaining to childhood and motherhood in the fields of society, family health, education and culture.
2. Following up and evaluating the implementation of public policy and the national plan for childhood and motherhood, in light of reports submitted from ministries and authorities.
3. Compiling information, statistics and studies in fields pertaining to childhood and motherhood, and evaluating their indicators.
4. Proposing the appropriate cultural, educational and informative programs and raising public awareness of the needs of childhood and motherhood, as well as their problems and ways of tackling them.
5. Proposing training programs capable of raising the standard of performance in implementing childhood and motherhood activities.
6. Cooperating with governmental and non governmental organizations working in the fields of childhood and motherhood at the regional and international levels, and encouraging voluntary work in these domains.
7. Giving opinion on conventions related to childhood and motherhood and participating in implementing aid agreements and assistance offered by other nations and organizations to Egypt.

- Council decisions are final and binding for all ministries, authorities, local administration units and the public sector in implementing plans, projects and programs set forth by the Council in the fields of childhood and motherhood.
- Based upon Presidential Decree No.54, the NCCM is considered a legal entity and affiliated to the Cabinet of Ministers. Its primary activity is planning and coordination. It does not offer direct services to children or mothers, except in special cases, or for experimental purposes.
The Council is entitled to take decisions, concerning the work policy of the Council itself, or concerning coordination between agencies working in the fields of childhood and motherhood.