Under the auspices and organization of the Fund for Assisting Victims of Trafficking in Persons (FAVOT), an intensive two-day workshop was conducted for imams and female religious preachers in Alexandria on 2 and 3 February under the title “The Role of Religious Leaders in Combating the Crime of Trafficking in Persons and Raising Community Awareness.” The workshop was organized in cooperation with the National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons (NCCPIM&TIP) and the Ministry of Religious Endowments (Awqaf), Egypt.
The workshop targeted 60 imams and female religious preachers from Alexandria Governorate, with the aim of strengthening their capacities and preparing them to serve as facilitators in community awareness campaigns on the risks of trafficking in persons. The workshop was implemented in line with the National Comprehensive Strategy for Combating Trafficking in Persons, which recognizes religious leaders as key partners due to their unique ability to reach and influence all segments of society.
The workshop opened in the presence of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Saad El-Ash, Director of the Alexandria Directorate of Religious Endowments. It featured five specialized working sessions covering several key topics, including an overview of the national entities concerned and their respective efforts, an introduction to the nature of trafficking in persons and its various forms, and a presentation of the national legal framework alongside the religious perspective that prohibits the exploitation of human beings and upholds human dignity. The workshop also highlighted the practical role of imams and female religious preachers in providing family guidance and reporting cases through safe channels, in addition to a practical workshop on developing effective public awareness messages.
At the conclusion of the workshop, H.E.Dr.Mohamed Saad El-Ash, Director of the Alexandria Directorate of Religious Endowments, together with the training team of the Fund for Assisting Victims of Trafficking in Persons (FAVOT), presented certificates of completion to the participating imams and female religious preachers.
This workshop marks the first phase of a broader plan to replicate the initiative across governorates nationwide, with the aim of preparing qualified religious leaders capable of raising awareness, correcting misconceptions, and encouraging communities to cooperate with the relevant authorities in combating trafficking in persons and reporting suspected cases, in line with their religious, national, and moral responsibilities.
