Naela Gabr Warns of Hazards Migrants Face on Entering EU

The head of the National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons (NCCPIM & TIP) Ambassador Naela Gabr revealed that Egypt has launched a number of campaigns aiming at promoting public awareness of the hazards of illegal immigration.

Speaking to Sada Elbald English (SEE), H.E Gaber spoke about how these campaigns aim to affect migrant decision-making and reduce unauthorized and irregular migration by showing films, dram works, and songs strategically crafted messages and images into the intimate spaces of everyday life where potential migrants and their loved ones live and socialize.

"IOM and Egypt have launched the Aware Migrants Campaign, a fruitful outreach effort and an urgent call to action to community groups, the media, parents, and relatives in the countryside and upper Egypt to save and protect the lives of emigrant children attempting to cross the Medetarian Sea and European border, " she told SEE.

She also cited a number of drama works, persuasive campaigns by former footballer Hazem Emam and songs like "Faris" (also known as 'Al-Ashab') performed by Rab singer Zab Thrwat and street singer Ahmed Shiba and sponsored by (NCCPIM & TIP) as soft-power tools of governance that target the emotional registers of the audience in a bid to counter irregular migration.

In the same connection, NCCPIM & TIP members revealed that many Egyptian celebrities are particularly prominent in awareness campaigns against human trafficking.  Tharwat, Shiba, Aser Yassin, and Nelly Karem have all been extensively involved in anti-trafficking campaigns.

We have been fighting human trafficking and enlightening people of the dangers they are exposed to during irregular immigration, including arrest, fines, and death, the high-ranking official noted.

Gabr unveiled the dangers facing young migrants, adding that "community members can discourage friends or family they know thinking of crossing."

"Transnational criminal groups continue to recklessly disregard the lives of the young migrants they smuggle into the European countries."

When asked about the situation of Returning Irregular Immigrants, she said: "In Egypt, we have recently launched an initiative in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to support the rehabilitation of returned undocumented   immigrants.

On his part, Tamim Alian, an IOM representative, said that trafficking in persons is a crime different from smuggling. A man or woman can be trafficked inside one state, while a smuggled person has to cross a border.

Meanwhile, Mahmoud Emam, an NCCPIM & TIP representative, indicated that victims of trafficking will not be held legally responsible for these awful crimes.