The Cabinet’s National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons (NCCPIM&TIP) has launched its third national plan to combat and ban irregular migration for the period 2021 – 2023. The first two plans had been applied for 2016 – 2018 and 2018 – 2020.
The launching event was attended by Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine al-Kabbag; Christian Berger, Ambassador of the EU to Egypt; Laurent de Boeck, Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Egypt; Naela Gar, Chairperson of NCCPIM&TIP; as well as representatives of UN agencies and programmes in Egypt, a number of MPs, high ranking officials, and media persons.
Ms Kabbag said that the Ministry of Social Solidarity was battling illegal migration through a bunch of programmes directed at multidimensionally fighting poverty via various programmes of social care and protection, also through working to provide vocational training and job opportunities to young people, and awareness campaigns to inform them of the risks of illegal migration and the alternative opportunities available at home.
“The Egyptian government”, NCCPIM&TIP Chairperson Ms Gabr said, “gives high priority to combatting irregular migration which constitutes a thorny challenge to the international community.”
In this respect, Ms Gabr said, it is worth highlighting that not a single boat carrying illagal migrants has left Egyptian shores since September 2016. Egypt is also promoting technical education and vocational training to better equip young people for the job market, in addition to offering funding for medium, small, or micro projects.
Ms Gabr stressed that Egypt works closely with international partners and UN agencies to coordinate efforts on battling irregular migration and human trafficking.
Last June saw the IOM in Egypt join NCCPIM&TIP to launch two new Programmes to reinforce Egyptian national efforts in countering trafficking in persons and irregular migration.
The first Programme builds upon prior successes of the EU-funded “Action to Support the NCCPIM&TIP to Create a Safe and Secure Environment in Egypt”. It will support the Egyptian government in ensuring that trafficking in persons is monitored and curbed and victims of trafficking are promptly identified and receive adequate assistance. This would be achieved through capacity building interventions and awareness raising campaigns, for the continuous implementation of the National Strategy on Combating Trafficking in Persons (2016-2021). This programme is funded by the Regional Development and Protection Programme in North Africa (RDPP) of the European Union, also with a contribution from the Ministry of Interior of Italy.
The second Programme “Information on Risks of Irregular Migration and Promoting Safe Migration through the Strengthening of Community Engagement in Transit Countries along Central and Western Mediterranean Routes” is a regional programme funded by the Ministry of Interior of Italy. This Programme will be implemented in partnership with NCCPIM&TIP to address irregular migration through the dissemination of accurate information and support to vulnerable population in Egypt and Africa. It will inform people and youth in particular, about the risks associated with irregular migration, and will also provide citizens with information on safe migration opportunities and assistance and protection services in transit countries.
These Programmes are a continuum of previously operated programmes in Egypt with the full engagement of the National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons and its members, based on the legal and operational frameworks in Egypt.
Both programmes support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely Goal 5 “ Gender Equality” specifically Target 5.2 “End all violence against and exploitation of women and girls”, Target 5.3 “Eliminate forced marriages and genital mutilation, also Goal 8 “ Decent work and Economic growth” specifically Target 8.7 “End modern slavery and human trafficking”, Goal 10 “Reduced Inequalities”, Goal 16 “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions” and Goal 17 “Partnerships for the Goals”. This programme’s objectives also align with Egypt Vision 2030 goals particularly its social justice pillar and contributes to the implementation of the National Strategy on Combating Trafficking in Persons (2016-2021).
Watani International
7 July 2021