Changes in Legislation on Foster Family Care in the Arab Republic of Egypt

Abstract

This article reports on changes in legislation on foster family care in the Arab Republic of Egypt, specifically the replacement and/or addition of terms to the Egyptian Ministry Decree (17) 1968 and Egyptian Child Law No. 12 of 1996. The replacement of terms refers to Terms 4 and 10 in Article 87 of the Egyptian Child Law No. 12 of 1996. Term 4 addresses the numbers of biological siblings and foster children permitted in a foster family. Term 10 relates to how contact should be managed between a foster child and its biological family. The terms added are Terms D and H in Article 83 and Terms 10 and 12 in Article 87 of the Egyptian Child Law No. 12 of 1996. Terms D and H focus on the objectives of the foster family care system. Terms 10 and 12 address the process of reuniting a foster child with its biological family and the issue of retaining a foster child’s original parentage.