Strategic Review of the Egyptian Goodwill Committee

5. Raising awareness and improving communication

Abstract

This chapter advocates for enhanced Goodwill Committee visibility through digital platforms and updated paper brochures. The recommendations provided in this chapter have been developed to help the Goodwill Committee reach a broader audience, and enhance access to essential information and resources.

5.1. Developing and distributing materials to promote awareness

The Committee currently promotes awareness of their services via hardcopy brochures. There is no formal website, however the technical secretariat remains available to receiving calls from the public and embassy staff. During consultation, the Committee acknowledged that their awareness-raising brochure is not in wide circulation and may not be reaching their target audience; none of the embassies consulted by the OECD had received a copy of the brochure but had instead acquired knowledge through experience and “word of mouth”.

In the absence of readily available information, the Committee is aware that foreign citizens have exchanged information on child abduction via alternative means, including via social media expatriate forums. This informal transfer of information may create confusion, inconsistencies in practice and the dissemination of misinformation.

The need for additional, accessible information on the Committee's functions, including details on how to initiate the Committee process, was considered important by all the stakeholders involved, particularly the interrelationship with court processes. The majority of embassy stakeholders lacked awareness that the Committee processes could run concurrently with court proceedings and provide support with child location and contact issues.

To increase awareness of the Committee's services, and in recognition that users of the Committee are typically non-Egyptian parents, a communications strategy should be developed that includes reference to multiple outreach platforms (e.g. a multilingual website, paper brochures and social media campaigns).

5.2.  Enhancing communication between the Government of Egypt and foreign embassies

Embassies reported that while efforts have been made by the Government of Egypt (GoE) to develop online services and communication pathways, these services and pathways have not always been maintained and have quickly become superseded or obsolete. In practice, current arrangements appear to depend on personal relationships and informal flows of information.

Embassies were unsure how to access information on the Committee and reported that formal communication mechanisms (e.g. embassy circulars) were not habitually used to promote understanding on issues relating to foreign citizens.

Structured, clear and reliable communication channels between embassies and the GoE (including the Committee) may help to reduce confusion and build trust. As an initial step, there may be utility for the GoE to standardise the usage of embassy circulars to ensure that embassies receive timely and accurate updates on Egyptian government services of relevance to foreign citizens – including Committee operations.

To support the opening of communication channels, the OECD hosted a policy dialogue between embassies and government ministries on International Child Custody Disputes in May 2024.

Box 5.1. Policy Dialogue on International Child Custody Disputes

On 23 May 2024 the OECD hosted a policy dialogue in Cairo, Egypt to enhance connection and co-ordination among representatives from the key institutions involved in international child custody disputes – bringing together national institutions, including members of the Committee, the Child Protection Bureau for Child Protection and Persons with Disabilities and the NCCM, along with representatives from OECD embassies in Egypt.

The Policy Dialogue was a unique opportunity to open dialogue between OECD embassies and Egyptian authorities on current child abduction governance processes and opportunities for reform. The dialogue facilitated the sharing of experiences and expertise on how to uplift current processes.

All participants supported the policy dialogue, recognising its significant value and the progress achieved. It was proposed that the policy dialogue be organised on an annual basis to ensure ongoing progression and collaboration on Egyptian child abduction governance processes.

5.3. Key recommendations

• Develop a comprehensive communications strategy for raising awareness of, and facilitating access to the Committee, including:

  • a user-friendly website, supplemented by brochures, FAQs, and clear access pathways and contact information (in multiple languages)

  • a social media strategy – particularly online expatriate forums and posts on the social media platforms of Committee members

  • regular in-person forums between members of the Committee and foreign embassies.

• Standardise the usage of embassy circulars to ensure that embassies receive timely and accurate updates on Egyptian government services that are relevant to foreign citizens.

• Revise and update the Committee brochure currently in use, circulating it widely to ensure that essential information is readily available to the target audience.