“Okeil”: Egypt offers many opportunities for migrants despite the challenges they face

“Basha”: we must step up the effort to raise awareness of Egyptian laws among migrants so that they can identify the challenges they face and the demands they shall call for

Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights, in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration in Egypt, concluded the joint training program on "Educating Migrants about Egyptian Laws", which targeted 150 migrants of 8 different nationalities.

The training program allowed participants to have a closer look at the Egyptian laws, such as the laws on education, health, residence and work, the most prominent opportunities offered by these laws, and the challenges that impede their realization. Participants also learned about the services provided by the International Organization for Migration.

Among the key findings of the training program was the need to increase such programs that aim to improve the conditions of migrants, especially after their arrival to Egypt. Participants stressed the need to establish electronic platforms that introduce the rights and duties of migrants in Egypt, as well as the most prominent official bodies with which they can cooperate.

In this context, Ayman Okeil, President of Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights, stated that the Egyptian state provides many opportunities for migrants in Egypt. Moreover, the philosophy of the Egyptian legislator of laws did not distinguish between migrants and Egyptians and equally includes them under one law.

The human rights expert added that Egypt did not trade in the issues of migrants and refugees as other countries do, despite the presence of more than 9 million foreigners on its land. Despite the challenges that migrants may face, in general, no official or unofficial body in Egypt should spare any opportunity to provide more support, in all its forms, to develop and improve the conditions of migrants in Egypt.

Commenting on the training program, Abdul-Rahman Basha, director of the Sustainable Development Unit at Maat, said that cooperation with the International Organization for Migration in Egypt was such a fruitful one, in which the two parties aimed at raising awareness for migrants about Egyptian laws, so that they could know their duties and rights. "Basha" indicated that participants have put forward the major challenges they face and come up with a set of recommendations to be adopted and sent to the concerned authorities, and stressed the need to step up the effort to raise awareness of Egyptian laws among migrants so that they can identify the challenges they face and the demands they shall call for.

Notably, this training, launched in April and ended in June 2022, comes in the context of the memorandum of understanding signed between Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights and the International Organization for Migration in Egypt.