Cairo, Egypt 1 August 2024 – The National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons (NCCPIM&TIP), in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Egypt organized a regional conference on "Addressing Child Trafficking: Promising Initiatives and Best Practices" to discuss enhancing response to combatting trafficking.

Participants, including government officials from institutions in charge of combating trafficking and protection of children in Africa, Middle East and the European Union, as well as UN agencies, academia, and civil society, discussed comprehensive and coordinated approaches for the protection of and assistance to children victims of trafficking, and efforts to enhance coordination of the trafficking response mechanism, especially for children.

 H.E. Ambassador Naela Gabr, Chairperson of the National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons emphasized that “The National Coordination Committee’s attention to this conference, as it addresses a topic of priority for the entire world, namely the crime of child trafficking. This crime is one of the most heinous crimes and constitutes a severe violation of the fundamental rights of children, who are the most vulnerable group in society. Certainly. Egypt recognized early the seriousness of trafficking in persons crime, particularly child trafficking, and its negative effects on the security and safety of society. Since then, it has made significant progress in combating it . The Egyptian perspective on the optimal approach to addressing the crime views it as a transnational organized crime, while also paying special attention to respecting internationally recognized human rights principles “

Discussions also included how research can strengthen the evidence base on child trafficking, prevention measures to be considered as a response to trafficking dynamics and address individual, community, and societal-level factors.

Through interactive panel discussions and plenaries, participants had the opportunity to share their experiences, best practices, and promising initiatives. They also discussed obstacles and challenges to addressing child trafficking in their countries.

Dr. Sahar Al-Sonbaty, President of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, expressed her happiness at participating in the celebration of the World Day to Combat Human Trafficking, which comes under the slogan “No Child Left Behind,” considering that children are among the most vulnerable groups and vulnerable to exploitation by perpetrators of human trafficking crimes, which requires special attention to protect and care for them, pointing out that this day always reminds us of the importance of concerted efforts to combat this crime that undermines the dignity of the individual and threatens society, as well as the importance of organizing a conference that contributes to exchanging experiences and best practices and highlighting the Egyptian role in confronting this crime. Pointing to the role played by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, through the General Administration of the Child Helpline (16000), in receiving reports related to children and expediting them in a way that helps quickly save children from all danger, violence, or neglect, and its powers to request investigation into the reports it receives. Follow up on the results of the investigations and send reports on what is revealed to the competent authorities.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) latest report on global human trafficking trends shows that one in three detected victims of trafficking are children. In the MENA Region, IOM has screened and registered 291 Child Victims between 2019 and 2024.

Recommendations emphasized the need for collective mitigation response initiatives, in which governments, civil society, and the private sector must work together to address the root causes of child trafficking.

"Human Trafficking is a shared challenge that happens in all parts of the world. In the United States we face the phenomenon in all 50 states.  In the U.S. State Department’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report, The United States recognized Egypt’s increased efforts to eradicate this international problem.  Among the efforts recognized were Egypt’s efforts to more than double prosecutions of alleged sex and labor traffickers, increase investigations, and investigate and prosecute allegedly complicit officials.  Egypt and the United States will continue to work together, along with international partners like the IOM, to address this terrible crime.” said Mr. Scott Sanford, Deputy Political Chief at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo.

“Trafficking is one of the worst forms of violence against children. Urgent global action is needed to end it. We must not only raise our voices to denounce this crime, but also to implement measures to guarantee that child trafficking victims receive care and support; to mitigate trafficking risks by investing in systems to protect vulnerable children; to prevent, prosecute, and punish human trafficking.” said Mr. Carlos Oliver Cruz, Chief of Mission of IOM Egypt.

The conference was organised by The National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons (NCCPIM&TIP), in collaboration with the International Organization for migration (IOM) in Egypt   under the framework of the Africa Regional Migration Program, generously funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM).

It aligns with IOM Egypt’s engagement with the Government of Egypt on addressing trafficking in persons and the protection of migrants, specifically vulnerable groups.

For more information, please contact:

• Salma Elelimie, Member of the Technical Secretariate, Counter trafficking in persons unit (salmaelime@gmail.com)
• Salma Okasha, Media and Communications, IOM Egypt (sokasha@iom.int)