Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling

The European Commission said it would disburse 127 million euros ($135 million) in aid to Tunisia as part of its deal with the country aimed at fighting illegal immigration from Africa to Europe. The Commission said 60 million euros would be made available in budget support to Tunisia, while a package worth around 67 million euros aimed at strengthening Tunisia's capacities to combat human traffickers and tighten border controls would be disbursed in the coming days. Tunisia and the EU in July signed a "strategic partnership" deal to fight illegal migration in return for financial support during a sharp increase in boats leaving the North African nation for Europe.

EU launches a cooperation with Morocco allocating €152 million comprehensive programme on migration will strengthen Morocco's border management actions in the fight against smuggling networks, the National Strategy of Morocco on Immigration and Asylum,  as well as the voluntary return and the reintegration of migrants to their countries of origin, in accordance with international standards in terms of Human rights.

The Algerian government announced a new law on "human trafficking," which included penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment.  It calls for a national strategy to prevent human trafficking, asserting the need to harness all necessary efforts and capabilities to implement the new law. The new law stipulated that the state accompany victims of human trafficking and provide them with health, psychological, social, and legal assistance and care. It must also facilitate their reintegration into society, with particular attention to women, children, and people with special needs, considering their age and gender. Victims are treated free of charge by public health institutions. Observers noted that the law targeted people who employ sub-Saharan nationals in their homes, or construction sites, especially since their rights are often violated illegally. Each year, thousands of sub-Saharan citizens enter Algeria.

Establishment of a Permanent Committee for Refugee Affairs to provide optimal services and assistance to all refugees

The European Union signed an agreement with Egypt on Sunday for the first phase of an 80 million-euro border management programme, a statement from the EU delegation in Cairo said, at a time when Egyptian migration to Europe has been rising. The project aims to help Egypt's coast and border guards reduce irregular migration and human trafficking along its border, and provides for the procurement of surveillance equipment such as search and rescue vessels, thermal cameras, and satellite positioning systems, according to an EU Commission document published this month.

The National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons (NCCPIM&TIP), which is affiliated to the Cabinet of Ministers, launched the Third National Strategy on Combating and Preventing Trafficking in Persons for the period (2022-2026). It is a starting point and the beginning of new action plan in which we build on what was achieved upon the completion of the previous National Strategy (2016-2021). the National Strategy has followed the international scientific approach in the field of combating trafficking in persons, which is the four pillars’ approach “4Ps” (Prevention, Prosecution, Protection, and Partnership), which makes the strategy an effective tool in the hands of the government to protect individuals and the community as a whole.

Under the amendments, tougher penalties shall be imposed on whoever commits, initiates, or mediates in the crime of smuggling migrants.

The overarching goal of the new NAP is to prevent and respond to human trafficking and migrant smuggling, which women and children are at heightened risk of. The plan outlines activities aimed at eradicating trafficking in persons.

The ratification of this protocol is intended to prevent and combat trafficking in persons and facilitate international cooperation against it. The Protocol also highlights the problems associated with trafficking in persons that often leads to inhuman, degrading, and dangerous exploitation of trafficked persons.