Okeil: Egyptian laws include many provisions that benefit migrants in line with Egypt's international obligations

Passant Essam: Migrants need electronic platforms through which they can receive their government services

Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights has just concluded the first version of the training program entitled "Educating Migrants about Egyptian Laws", which was held in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Egypt.

The training covered the international human rights mechanisms that protect migrants, as well as the most prominent challenges facing migrants in Egypt. It also discussed the forms of support provided by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Egypt to migrants, whether through direct aid or a voluntary return program. Notably, the Egyptian laws contain many provisions that ensure migrants’ access to various facilities and services. Among these provisions are those related to health, education, residence and work.

Ayman Okeil, President of Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights, stressed the importance of having such meetings with migrants in a regular basis, given their role in opening spaces for dialogue and allowing migrants to speak up and uncover the challenges they face, in addition to allowing them to explore and suggest effective solutions to their problems.

The international human rights expert indicated that Egyptian laws have many provisions that benefit migrants, especially those exposed to difficult economic conditions. Okeil further stressed the need for continuing dialogue to improve their economic conditions and integrate them legally, socially and culturally in line with Egypt's international commitments related to the rights of migrants.

In the same regard, Passant Essam El-Din, deputy director of the African Affairs and Sustainable Development Unit, stated that the training was concluded with a set of recommendations presented by the migrants themselves in light of the challenges they face, topped by providing electronic platforms through which they can receive their government services such as residence, education, and work, and minimizing the procedures and material expenses in government departments as much as possible.

Essam El-Din added that this training is a seed that will grow and give birth to a number of community leaders and influential immigrants, who can cooperate to better promote the rights of larger numbers of immigrants.

Notably, this training comes within the memorandum of understanding signed between Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights and the International Organization for Migration in Egypt, which aims to promote and protect the rights of migrants, through a number of training programs such as this one.