3 August 2019, Cairo – The International Organization for Migration in Egypt celebrated the World Day against Trafficking in Persons with a community event attended by more than 1,000 Egyptians and nationals from the Beninese, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Filipino, Iraqi, Kenyan, Liberian, Nigerian, Syrian, Somali, Sudanese, South Sudanese and Yemeni communities. Fellow UN agencies UNAIDS and the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) participated with booths, giveaways, and informational materials on protection services and awareness-raising messages on trafficking in persons. The day focused on empowering communities to understand, prevent and respond to trafficking and raise awareness of protection mechanisms available to victims or persons at-risk of trafficking.

The event featured health exams and sessions on nutrition and women’s health, psycho-social support and mental-wellbeing sessions, screenings of IOM’s trafficking in persons awareness videos, self-defense classes, and a painting and children’s empowerment station. All attendees were given tickets for popcorn, ice cream, fresh juice, and a meal, which was served alongside a performance from local Sudanese band RANGO.

The Alexandria-based Syrian Sports Academy provided self-defense workshop to women and children, and IOM’s partners from the Arab Council for Fair Trials (ACSFT), Caritas and the Psycho-Social Services and Training Institute in Cairo (PSTIC) also provided information to attendees about available protection services. The local chapter of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) volunteered for the day, assisting with women’s health and nutrition sessions, distribution of health and hygiene giveaways, and a variety of medical tests. Scouts and Guides Mother of Mercy & the Evangelist from Alexandria also volunteered for the event, assisting with activities, sessions, registration, set up and cleanup.

Mr. Laurent De Boeck, IOM Chief of Mission to the Arab Republic of Egypt, attended the event and ended the night with a closing ceremony recognizing the invaluable contributions of the community leaders who helped mobilize the attendees and other partners and participants in the day’s events. “Events like this are not only important for the empowerment and equipping of communities to react to and prevent trafficking, but also to celebrate the achievements of the communities and leaders who provide the first line of protection to their people. It’s also a day to come together as UN agencies, international organizations, community-based organizations, governments, and people to share the services and knowledge we have with migrants and Egyptians impacted by trafficking in persons, and recognize the hard work of the Government of Egypt and all of our partners to end trafficking in and out of Egypt.”

The community event was made possible by the support of the Governments of Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and the European Union. The activities supported the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely Goal 3: Good Health and well-being, Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, Goal 10: Reduced inequalities and Goal 16: Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies. It is also in line with the Global Compact for Migration’s Objectives, namely Objective 7: Address and reduce vulnerabilities in migration, Objective 15: Provide access to basic services for migrants, Objective 16: Empower migrants and societies to realize full inclusion and social cohesion and Egypt’s Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS): 2030 Vision, namely the Social Justice Pillar: “By 2030, Egypt is a fair interdependent society characterized by equal economic, social, political rights and opportunities realizing social inclusion. A society that provides protection, and support to marginalized and vulnerable groups.”

For more information, please contact Omar Awwad at IOM Egypt, Tel: +20 1032 049 144; Email: oawwad@iom.int