This OECD Strategic Review of the Egyptian Goodwill Committee demonstrates Egypt’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the rule of law, protecting child rights and uplifting governance processes to safeguard vulnerable members of society.

Since 2016, the Government of Egypt (GoE) has pursued an extensive reform agenda to improve national standards of living by emphasising consolidation of the principles of justice, social integration and the participation of citizens in political and social life. Aligned with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Egypt Vision 2030 sets transformational goals across economic, environmental and social levels, including emphasis on the empowerment of women and youth.

Recognising that children and young people constitute approximately 40% of Egypt's populace, Egyptian justice reform policies have prioritised the development of a child-friendly justice system. In support, in July 2023, the OECD launched Towards a Child Friendly Justice System in Egypt: Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, providing an overview of the current legal and policy framework on child justice in Egypt. The 2023 Child Friendly Justice Strategic Review includes significant recommendations to reform the Egyptian child legal and policy framework, emphasising the importance of strengthening the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice. Through the 2023 Strategic Review, a critical need was identified to support the governance of child abduction cases. Specifically, need to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Goodwill Committee for International Co-operation in disputes relating to the custody of children born from mixed marriages (the Goodwill Committee).

This Strategic Review of the mandate, composition and efficiency of the Goodwill Committee responds to the 2023 findings and represents a pivotal opportunity for Egypt to transform child abduction governance arrangements. A range of recommendations are offered; to empower the Goodwill Committee, to explore multilateral arrangements and to develop innovative new prevention mechanisms. All recommendations have been developed to ensure that child best interests remain the foremost priority.

Implementation of the recommendations would represent transformative change and usher in a new era of trust and co-operation. Domestically, Egyptian citizens would benefit from streamlined processes, resulting in increased confidence in the rule of law. Across the MENA region, adoption of the recommendations would display regional leadership and emphasise the importance of child abduction cases. Internationally, implementation would pave the way for improved co-operation and trust between Egypt and all OECD member states. In a time of regional polycrisis, the importance of building and maintaining trust cannot be overstated.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation provided funding to enable this review; the GoE made its institutions accessible and actively sought consultation with OECD member country embassies based in Cairo to ensure the reform options developed met stakeholder needs, and meaningfully addressed critical governance issues.