Cairo, 4 August 2022 – In the framework of the World Day against trafficking in persons 2022, the International Organization for Migration in Egypt organized the painting of a mural on counter-trafficking to raise awareness about the crime of trafficking in persons. The mural painting took place for two days during which 20 Volunteers from Yemen, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, and Côte d'Ivoire participated actively in the design and implementation of the mural, under the leadership of an Egyptian artist, Ms. Yara Hijazi.

The mural denounces the idea of exploitation and how humans are being treated as commodities in such crimes. It also sheds the light on the fact that anyone, including women, men, and children can be a victim of trafficking while showing that there is a solution for everyone to be liberated and rescued from their situation of trafficking. 

“It was a wonderful experience, unforgettable, for me, painting is life and love, and in these days, I lived moments of love with colors, brushes, and my painter friends. The best thing about this experience is that it contributes to protecting lives, reducing human trafficking, and raising community awareness about this phenomenon” said Hadeel, a volunteer from Yemen.

This initiative was in collaboration with Maq‘ad of Sultan Qaitbey ‘MASQ’, an institution that combines historic preservation with cultural and social development activities in Egypt. The location of the mural is accessible to both the local and migrant communities.

“It has been an honour to be a part of this activity. Working with migrants from diverse backgrounds created a rich cultural experience, and art is an excellent tool for doing so. It is worth mentioning that this was part of my ongoing study on community-engaged public arts and its contribution to community development” said Yara Hijazi, artist and designer of the mural.

This activity was made possible through the generous support offered by the European Union within the scope of the Regional Development and Protection Programme (RDPP).

The mural activity contributed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 3 "Good Health and Wellbeing”, Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and Goal 8 (8.7: End modern-day slavery and human trafficking), Goal 17 (Partnerships for the goals). It also contributed to the achievement of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) objectives, with focus on Objective 10 (Prevent, combat, and eradicate trafficking in persons in the context of international migration) and Objective 7 (Address and reduce vulnerabilities in migration).