Cairo/Brussels – IOM, the UN Migration Agency, facilitated a counter-trafficking study visit to Brussels, Belgium for nine Egyptian officials from 6 to 11 May, 2018, in coordination with the IOM Country Office for Belgium and Luxembourg. The objective of the visit was to familiarize the delegation with counter-trafficking coordination arrangements in Belgium and victim protection mechanisms. Belgium is ranked Tier 1 in the US State Department Report on Trafficking in Persons and notably has achieved progress in the victim protection system through the past years. The delegation included officials from the National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, the National Council for Human Rights, the Office of Prosecutor General, the State Control Authority, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior.

The Egyptian delegation met with representatives of the Criminal Policy Service, the Belgian Immigration Office, the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Federal Police as well as the Federal Migration Centre , labor inspectors and non-governmental organizations, such as Pag-Asa and Samilia Foundation to discuss the coordination of counter-trafficking activities, various aspects of the Belgian national referral mechanism for protecting victims of trafficking and awareness raising initiatives.

“The study visit falls within the framework of partnership between IOM and the Government of Egypt to strengthen the counter trafficking response and enhance the protection of victims in Egypt. The exposure to the efficient coordinated practice of victim protection in Belgium will be beneficial to the Egyptian system aimed at improving the security and living conditions of this category of people, who suffer as a result of severe and inhumane exploitation, threat and trauma, and/or have experienced physical and psychological violence.” said Andrea Dabizzi, Head of Migrant Protection and Assistance Division at IOM Egypt.

During the visit, the Egyptian officials also met with H.E Ambassador Urs Bucher from the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the European Union and representatives of the European Commission (Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs) and the  IOM Regional Office for the EEA, EU and NATO.

The visit addressed the Egyptian government’s priorities as outlined in the National Strategy on Combating Trafficking in Persons for 2016-2021. The visit was implemented under the project “Action to Support the National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons (NCCPIM&TIP) to Create a Safe and Secure Environment in Egypt”, funded by the European Union. The initiative also works toward the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 10.7: facilitate orderly, safe, and responsible migration and mobility of people.

For more information, please contact Monica Ibrahim at IOM Egypt, Tel: +2 02 2736 5140/1, Email: mgibrahim@iom.int