IOM Egypt Marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

IOM Egypt in cooperation with LaLiga, Pyramids F.C and ‘Mission 89’ celebrated World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2022, by organizing a multinational football tournament for more than 200 migrants from Eritrea, Nigeria, Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Guinea, and Tanzania, including children.

The partakers highlighted the importance of this day through a multiagency, multinational approach to addressing and tackling trafficking in sports and the growing impact of technology on this global crime, according to IOM.

The main purpose of this tournament is to break down barriers between communities and provide a platform for IOM and its partners to raise awareness of the growing, changing risks of trafficking in person, IOM noted.

IOM hailed the donors from the European Union, the Italian Ministry of Interior, and the Government of the Kingdom of Netherlands who financially contributed to the organization of this event. Also, it thanked the ongoing and substantial efforts made by the Government of Egypt to prevent and combat trafficking in persons.

On the date of July 30th, the 'World Day Against Trafficking in Persons' is observed by the UN body.

In conjunction with this annual celebration, the American administration released a new report, entitled: "The Trafficking in Persons (TIP), which is the U.S. Government’s principal diplomatic tool to engage foreign governments on human trafficking. It is also cited as the world’s most comprehensive resource of governmental anti-trafficking efforts and reflects the U.S. Government’s commitment to global leadership on this key human rights and law enforcement issue.

This day aims to bring awareness about the issues which the current world is facing because of a social evil known as human trafficking.

Trafficking in persons is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. Every year, thousands of people especially young sporters fall into the hands of traffickers, in their own countries and abroad. Almost every country in the world is affected by trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims. UNODC, as guardian of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the Protocols thereto, assists States in their efforts to implement the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (Trafficking in Persons Protocol)

This year’s theme focuses on the role of technology as a tool that can both enable and impede human trafficking.

The dilemma of human trafficking is still destroying our society and it needs to be eradicated. From the point of view of IOM, it is only possible with the support of all including the government, authorities, and the people.

Moreover, the UN indicated that prevention and awareness-raising activities on the safe use of the internet and social media could help mitigate the risk of people falling victim to trafficking online. Cooperation with the private sector is important to harness innovation and expertise for the development of sustainable, technology-based solutions to support the prevention and combatting of human trafficking.