Combating human trafficking

By Nihal Fahmi

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Egyptians have witnessed rather extraordinary crimes to the community lately, starting with the famous "Torbini" case of the killing of street children for their internal organs to the more recent crimes of the kidnapping of orphans from shelters supposed to protect them for adoption outside Egypt.

We have also been witnessing extensive debate on the long awaited -- for more than 10 years now -- new legislation on "organ trafficking", with Hamdi El-Sayed, head of the Doctors' Syndicate, threatening resignation if the law is delayed further. Another development on the same front is news that Egypt is currently drafting comprehensive legislation on combating human trafficking. Indeed, it is this practice -- and concept -- that is at the heart of the aforementioned problems.

Human trafficking represents the worst form of labour exploitation and can be regarded as one of the dark sides of globalisation. Trafficking supplies human beings for prostitution, sweatshop labour, street begging, domestic work, forced marriage, adoption, agricultural work, construction work, armed conflicts (mercenaries and child soldiers), and other forms of exploitive labour or services. It is like a spider's web, spreading everywhere around us. Fighting it necessitates going deep into its root causes and the cultural heritage that supports it.

This week's Soapbox speaker is regional expert on combating human trafficking.