CCCPA conducted a training course on “Combating Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants” from 5-8 September 2022, in Cairo, with a wide participation from representatives and state officials from a number of African countries.

The training comes in the context of Egypt’s continued efforts to prioritize strengthening of bilateral cooperation with sisterly African countries, in areas of mutual interest and national priorities, with a focus on building national capacities. The training program focused on supporting national frameworks   to combat human trafficking and smuggling of migrants by acquainting participants with the necessary tools, knowledge and in this field. The training also addressed the devastating impacts of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants on the safety of societies, and its negative consequences on achieving sustainable development while highlighting Egypt's role on the international and regional levels in combatting these crimes.

In his opening remarks CCCPA’s Policy Coordinator stated that this training is organized in the context of the Center’s transnational threats program, which seeks to “enhance the capacities of African countries to combat human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, highlighting the threat it poses to regional peace, security and overall stability in the region, especially in view of the transnational nature of the crime.”  He expressed appreciation for the continued support of the Japanese government CCCPA’s programs in this field.

For the first time, this training focuses on the frameworks of victims’ protection and the national and international prosecution mechanisms and procedures, including through examining the topics of (i) investigation techniques in human trafficking & smuggling of migrants; (ii) prosecution of human trafficking and migrants smuggling cases; and (iii) International Cooperation Mechanism in Combating Trafficking in Persons, and thus adding an additional dimension to the traditional topics of the training, such as anti-trafficking frameworks, including acceding to and implementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC); national experiences; role of the national protection system in the identification, referral and assistance of victims of human trafficking; and the provision of protection and rehabilitation for victims of trafficking.

The training comes as part of the project on “Enhancing Peace, Security and Stability in Africa VII”, funded by the Government of Japan and administered through UNDP.