Cairo, 30 July 2019 – In celebration of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Egypt, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA) and the National Coordinating Committee for Combatting and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons (NCCPIM&TIP) organized a reception at the premises of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. More than 100 members of the Egyptian and foreign governments, United Nations agencies and media professionals were in attendance. Ambassador Naela Gabr of NCCPIM&TIP and the Regional Representative for the UN Office for Drugs and Crime for the Middle East and North Africa, Ms. Cristina Albertin, gave opening remarks alongside IOM Egypt’s Chief of Mission, Mr. Laurent De Boeck.

In his remarks, Mr. De Boeck commended the achievements of the Committee and the Government of Egypt in successfully combating trafficking from multiple angles, while highlighting the important ongoing work being done in partnership with NCCPIM&TIP. “With all of these great achievements in countering trafficking networks, we still aim to bring all trafficking networks to justice and, most of all, to ensure that all victims are identified and enjoy full access to the protection and rehabilitation services that they need. I am certain that with an enhanced National Referral Mechanism, with the opening of the shelter for victims and the continuity of our action against trafficking from all angles, we will eradicate of this crime.”

The event also served to premiere two new awareness-raising animation videos which are part of six videos series produced by IOM in partnership with NCCPIM&TIP that will feature the voices of IOM Goodwill Ambassadors Nelly Karim and Asser Yassin. The six videos will be available on IOM Egypt and NCCPIM&TIP’s social media platforms over the next two months. The event was also an opportunity to announce the finalization of new guidelines for law enforcement personnel on investigating trafficking crimes and protecting victims of trafficking. 

The event was supported by the contributions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and supports the achievement of the Global Compact for Migration (Objective 10: Prevent, combat and eradicate trafficking in persons in the context of international migration, Objective 7: Address and reduce vulnerabilities in migration), the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Target 5.1: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation, Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour), and Egypt’s Vision 2030 (Social Justice program 4: Improving the social protection and subsidy systems and expanding their coverage).

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