Cairo, 20 September 2018 - IOM and the Forensic Medicine Authority (FMA) organized a training from 18 to 20 September for 25 forensic experts from 7 different Egyptian governorates on passport examination procedures in order to support front line border management, law enforcement and prosecutors.

The three-day training was facilitated by Mr. Nelson Gonclaves, Immigration and Border Management Training Specialist from the African Capacity Building Centre with extensive training experience in Egypt and abroad. Participants acquired in-depth, hands-on experience using verification equipment to identify forged and counterfeit documents.

“IOM is committed to supporting the Government of Egypt to ensure orderly, safe and humane migration. This includes the activities aimed at strengthening the capacities to identify and detect unlawful activities related to migration. The training for the Forensic Medical Authority follows similar trainings already conducted with law enforcement officers” said Mr. Andrea Dabizzi, Head of Migrant Protection and Assistance Unit at IOM Egypt.

In line of the above, IOM Egypt supports the provision of equipment to detect fraud and manipulation of passports, in addition to chemicals for DNA sampling and sequencing.

The training and equipment were funded by the United States as part of the IOM intervention “Addressing irregular migration flows and upholding human rights of migrants along the north-eastern African migration route and North Africa - NOAH Phase V”. The intervention supports the Government of Egypt in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 10.7: “Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies”, and Goal 16.3: “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all”.

For more information, please contact Omar Awwad at IOM Egypt, Tel: +2 02 2736 5140/1 Email: oawwad@iom.int

Website: https://egypt.iom.int/