Cairo, 11 June 2019 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons (NCCPIM&TIP), in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Solidarity (MoSS), organized the second round of a three-day training for social workers on trafficking in persons. The training provides participants with the definition of trafficking in persons, the relevant legal and operational frameworks in Egypt, as well as the necessary tools for victim identification and provision of basic assistance services. The workshop was held from 9 to 11 June 2019 in Cairo and attended by 30 social workers from 14 governorates in Egypt.

During her opening remarks, the chairperson of NCCPIM&TIP Ambassador Naela Gabr affirmed that combating trafficking in persons is a national commitment, and that victim protection is guaranteed by the national law as a priority. Ambassador Gabr elaborated that the Government of Egypt is committed to renovate national shelters for victims of trafficking, where the social workers will play an important role in victim support and rehabilitation. Mr. Andrea Dabizzi, Head of the IOM Migrant Protection and Assistance Unit, co-opened the training by addressing the participants on how “Social workers play an integral part in combatting trafficking in persons, in particular when it comes to the protection of the victims.”  

The workshop was supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and supports the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, namely Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals. It is also in-line with the objectives of the social and economic dimensions of the Sustainable Development Strategy 2030 of the Government of Egypt and contributes to the implementation of the 2016-2021 National Strategy on Combatting and Preventing Trafficking in Persons.

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