Moushira Khattab, Minister of State for Family and Population, announced that a draft law protecting the rights of the physically challenged has been approved by the cabinet, and is set to be reviewed by parliament. The draft law was prepared by the ministerial committee, headed by Mofeed Shehab, the Minister of State for Legal Affairs and Parliamentary Councils. According to Khattab, the law will fulfill the needs and demands of the physically challenged community, many of whom participated in its drafting. It also conforms to the International Convention on the Rights of the Disabled, ratified by Egypt. The law establishes a national council for the disabled and a fund for their activities, which will be managed by the physically challenged. The law, according to the minister, follows the philosophy of the child law, making information accessible to the physically challenged so that they can more easily exercise their rights to participation, self-reliance, and full integration into society. Khattab clarified that the draft law includes nine chapters defining its terms, and another eight for rights and general provisions such as health, education, and community-based treatment. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
