Egypt's National Council for Persons with Disabilities, in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, on Sunday organised a marathon for children with disabilities at the Gezira Youth Centre under the slogan "Their Right to Joy… Our Duty to Protect Them." The event, which is part of Egypt's Childhood Day celebrations and the council's lead-up to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 3, saw the participation of 900 people, including 400 children with various disabilities and 300 of their parents. The marathon was held in partnership with Maadi Steel, Save the Children, and the UNHCR in Egypt, as well as 15 civil society organisations working in the field of disability. The event included sports activities, artistic performances such as a puppet theatre, and a magic show, as well as an exhibition of products made by people with disabilities. Iman Karim, supervisor general of the council, said the marathon is organised annually to combine entertainment for children with raising community awareness about their rights, and to achieve their inclusion and empowerment. "The council is continuously working to promote the rights of children with disabilities in all fields, through close cooperation with relevant ministries and development partners, believing that empowering these children and protecting them from violence and neglect is both a national and a humanitarian responsibility," Karim said in a press statement. She added that the event underscores that "humanity knows no boundaries and that Egypt has always been and will always remain a nation that embraces everyone." The marathon aims to highlight the issue of combating violence against children, especially those with disabilities, through activities that promote awareness of children's rights and social inclusion.
