Cairo, 7 March  - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) organized the first Regional Workshop of the Regional Protection and Development Programme (RDPP) – Phase VI on 5 and 6 March 2024 in Cairo, serving as a unique coordination platform bringing together child protection and counter-trafficking stakeholders in North Africa and along key migration routes.  

Over two days, policy and operational actors from North Africa and countries along key migration routes exchanged promising practices, priorities and challenges encountered in the protection of victims of trafficking and children on the move.  

The rich exchanges will serve as a blueprint for regional tools and research being developed by IOM and its partners. Discussions also highlighted the diversity of initiatives that governments have taken to respond.  

“We are privileged to have this dedicated space to collaborate on the protection of children and victims of trafficking, some of the most vulnerable people on the move,” said Mr. Othman Belbeisi, IOM Regional Director for the MENA region. “This is extremely timely and will contribute to the Regional Review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) In the Arab region” he added. 

“About 15% of all identified victims of trafficking are children. Traffickers prey on people’s vulnerabilities and they exploit them for ruthless profit. Traffickers often operate within migratory flows which is why our common efforts together with IOM, Egypt and across the region to fight this crime are of importance,” recalled Mr. Christian Berger, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Egypt, in his opening remarks.      

The workshop saw the participation of 30 representatives from the respective governments of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Tunisia, the African Union, and international organizations including the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union Asylum Agency.  

“This workshop is an opportunity to exchange best practices with other countries, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing,” said Ambassador Wael Badawi, Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Refugees, Migration and Combatting Human Trafficking at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He stressed the commitment of Egypt’s to combat the crime of trafficking through the establishment of The National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons "NCCPIM&TIP" in 2017 and welcomed this opportunity to exchange practices with countries of the region.  

"Combatting trafficking in persons and protecting migrant children requires a comprehensive approach and strong partnerships,” said Mr. Omar Elian, Immigration attaché at the Italian Embassy in Egypt. 

This event is the first of a series of regional exchanges dedicated to supporting member states in achieving migrant-protection commitments, in line with the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). 

The workshop was made possible by the RDPP programme Phase VI regional intervention “Strengthening Protection in North Africa Through Regional Coordination and Knowledge”, funded by the European Union, through the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, and the Italian Ministry of Interior – Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration of Italy.  

This programme creates regional evidence, tools and dialogue in view of delivering solid policies and responses in the field of trafficking and protection of children on the move – with the overall aim of improving protection standards for migrants in North Africa and along key routes.