Egypt places great importance on combating human trafficking, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has said during a recorded speech to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
The international awareness day is held on 30 July every year. Egypt’s National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons has marked the day with a range of activities as part of the country’s efforts to support human rights issues.
In his speech, Madbouly pointed out that the Egyptian Constitution of 2014 stipulates that all forms of oppression and forced exploitation of people are prohibited.
He explained that this year’s event is occurring under exceptional circumstances imposed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The prime minister noted that the global health crisis has increased the burdens on countries around the world, especially in developing ones, notably in their obligations towards their citizens and residents.
Madbouly pointed out that Egypt has continued to develop a complete system for protecting human trafficking victims, despite the current circumstances, in accordance with the directives of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
The government has also sought to strike a balance between its fight against the pandemic and the necessity to take precautionary measures. This takes into account the negative impacts of the pandemic on standards of living, whilst citizen exposure to the risks of exploitation, Madbouly elaborated.
