The first activities of the “Step to Safety” Initiative, launched by the Fund for Assisting Victims of Trafficking in Persons under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports as the Initiative’s strategic partner, were held on the morning of Saturday, 15 August 2026, at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Plaza. The activities were organized as part of efforts to raise awareness of the risks of human trafficking and prevent it, and to mark the World Day against Trafficking in Persons.
The event was attended by H.E.Ambassador Amr Ramadan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fund for Assisting Victims of Trafficking in Persons; H.E. Ambassador Dina El Sehy, Executive Director of the Fund; Prof. Dr. Amira Heikal, Deputy Governor of Alexandria; Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, Head of the Central Administration for Sports Development, representing the Minister of Youth and Sports; Ms. Safaa El Sherif, Director of the Alexandria Directorate of Youth and Sports; and Ms. Heba El Rafie, Acting Head of the External Relations and Media Sector at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, along with several public figures and representatives of ministries, government entities, international organizations, civil society organizations, and relevant partners. This attendance reflected the integration of national and community efforts to combat human trafficking and strengthen the victim protection system.
The activities included a community mini-marathon that started from the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Plaza, with the participation of several young people, families, students, athletes, and volunteers, along with a range of interactive activities, games, and community and cultural events. These activities provided participants and members of the public with an opportunity to engage directly and learn, in a clear and accessible manner, about the risks of human trafficking, various forms of exploitation, and ways to prevent them.
The “Step to Safety” Initiative is part of the Fund for Assisting Victims of Trafficking in Persons’ vision to develop awareness-raising and communication tools for engaging with various segments of society, and to leverage sports, community activities, and volunteer work as innovative and effective means of raising awareness and encouraging community participation in efforts to prevent and combat human trafficking.
The Initiative’s message is not limited to raising awareness of the risks of human trafficking; it also extends to raising awareness of protection and reporting mechanisms, as well as the services provided by the Fund to victims. This contributes to enhancing community members’ ability to identify forms of exploitation, respond appropriately to such cases, and reach the competent authorities, thereby supporting the promotion of the values of human dignity, protection, and social responsibility.
Alexandria represents the first stop of the “Step to Safety” Initiative, with its activities set to continue successively across several governorates nationwide. This comes as part of an approach aimed at expanding the scope of community participation, strengthening national partnerships, and reaching the largest possible number of citizens with awareness messages, thereby supporting the State’s efforts to combat and prevent human trafficking and enhance community awareness of ways to protect those most vulnerable to exploitation.
