EGYPT'S First Lady Mrs Suzanne Mubarak opened in Cairo on Sunday the 7th Conference of the General Federation of NGOs and Foundations (GFNF), which focused on the structure of the Egyptian family, empowering families economically, legally, culturally and socially, population and birth control and the role of the mass media in this process. "Against a backdrop of world changes, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should take part in development. We have a well-established base for NGOs and accumulated experience, which have contributed greatly to development," Mrs Suzanne Mubarak told the gathering. "The family is the nucleus of society, ensuring stability and security... Priority will be given to the most needy families nationwide. "We want a stable family, in which every member enjoys basic services and rights. The family income and standard of living should increase year after year. "The Egyptian family has seen many changes. For instance, reliance on a wife's earning power is on the rise. A woman is the breadwinner for more than 30 per cent of families in Egypt. "Higher divorce rates, child labour and the underage marriage of girls are some of many challenges facing the Egyptian family.
