A semi-annual report on the performance of the Child Helpline during the period from January to June 2025 has been handed to Sahar al-Sonbaty, Chairperson of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM).
The report indicated that the Child Helpline, the hotline 16000, received a total 227,523 phone calls during the six-month period, averaging 1,243 calls a day.
Dr Sonbaty explained that the helpline received 11,644 complaints and requests for help, averaging 65 daily complaints. She noted that 87 per cent of the total calls for help sought support for children in hazardous situations, while 13 per cent requested psychological and legal consultations.
The complaints received by the Child Helpline, she explained, covered cases of neglect by family, psychological or physical violence, child labour, intention of performing female genital mutilation (FGM) on girls, or threat of child marriage. They also included requests for shelter services for homeless children, also for the need for official documents for children.
Other calls for help involved risks of online and on social media bullying, blackmail, and threats.
Dr Sonbaty pointed out that SOS messages on the Child Helpline helped rescue 179 girls from FGM, and halted 107 cases of child marriage involving girls below the legal marriage age of 18. Legal action was initiated taken against such crimes in cases when the parents or guardians rejected advice or warnings.
Gratitude is warranted, Dr Sonbaty said, to all relevant authorities and ministries that collaborate with the NCCM in rescuing children and providing them with all necessary support. Among those are the Public Prosecution’s “Child Protection Office”, which exerts enormous efforts in securing the rights of children as stipulated by law and international treaties, also the Ministry of Social Solidarity, and the Child Protection Units in the governorates, which promptly tackle complaints. In addition, special thanks we’re expressed for civil society organisations that cooperate with the NCCM.
According to Wael Abdel-Razek, the Secretary-General of NCCM, the governorates with the highest demand for helpline services were Cairo, Alexandria, Giza, Daqahliya, Sharqiya, and Qalyubiya”.
Sabry Osman, Director of the General Administration for Child Rescue,, noted that complaints and reports are received on the Child Helpline 24/7, also via WhatsApp 01102121600, or through the official Facebook page of the NCCM.
Watani International
22 July 2025
