Cairo, 30 April 2024 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in cooperation with the National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons (NCCPIM&TIP), organized its second training with EgyptAir in Luxor as part of an initiative to enhance the capacities of EgyptAir check-in and ground staff on travel document examination, detection of forged documents and to build the staff knowledge on trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.

During the training, that was attended by 20 check-in staff and received with satisfaction, IOM introduced its scope of work and programmes in Egypt, IOM’s approach on counter-trafficking and smuggling, travel documents security features and printing techniques among other topics. In addition, the training saw the valuable contribution of representatives from the embassies of UK, U.S.A., and Germany to cover topics on passengers’ profiles and entry and exit procedures from the European Union, UK and U.S.A.

The training created a platform to showcase best practices and challenging experiences which aims at combating trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants and ensuring the protection of vulnerable migrants by capacitating frontline staff in Egyptian Airports.

“Recognizing Egypt’s pivotal role as a centre for the arrival, transit, and departure of travelers, airport frontline personnel and check-in staff must be aware of the urgent requirements of some migrants, particularly those in precarious circumstances. Today's training session represents a continued collaboration between IOM and EgyptAir, aimed at bolstering EgyptAir’s frontline staff's understanding of human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and the scrutiny of travel documents. This collaborative effort plays a vital role in safeguarding the welfare of migrants travelling by air” highlighted by Carlos Oliver Cruz, IOM Egypt Chief of mission.

This activity was generously funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) through Africa Regional Migration Program. It aligns with IOM Egypt’s engagement with the Government of Egypt on the protection of migrants and enhancement of related capacities and Egypt’s Vision 2030.