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Preliminary thoughts on Egypt’s Law Concerning Trafficking in Human Beings
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[Migration Policy Centre]; [CARIM-South]; CARIM Analytic and Synthetic Notes; 2011/45; Series on the Fight against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants in Legislation
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BADAWY, Tarek, Preliminary thoughts on Egypt’s Law Concerning Trafficking in Human Beings, [Migration Policy Centre], [CARIM-South], CARIM Analytic and Synthetic Notes, 2011/45, Series on the Fight against Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants in Legislation - https://hdl.handle.net/1814/17798
Abstract
This article analyses the most important provisions of Egypt’s Law Concerning the Trafficking in
Human Beings (‘Law’). Human trafficking in Egypt takes several forms and targets Egyptians and
foreign nationals alike. While the Law is progressive and is largely pro victim, the author expresses
concerns respecting the interpretation of some sections of the Law. For example, the Law evokes the
existing tensions between shariah, which constitutes the main sources of legislation in Egypt, and
criminal law. Furthermore, the Law will be devoid of any power in absence of a sincere political will
to try the perpetrators of human trafficking; lack of will can be caused by the existence of
misconceptions about female victims of trafficking on the part of some members of the police and the
prosecution. Accordingly, in order for this Law to be effective, extensive training in human trafficking
issues and their social implications is needed. Having said that, the author believes that the benefits of
this Law outweigh its pitfalls; and he is optimistic that any gaps will be filled by judicial activism.
Résumé
Cet article analyse les dispositions les plus importantes de la loi égyptienne contre la traite des
personnes. La traite des personnes prend diverses formes en Egypte et concerne aussi bien les
Egyptiens que les étrangers. Bien que la loi soit progressiste et pro-victime, l’auteur exprime son
inquiétude quant à l’interprétation de certaines sections de la loi. A titre d’exemple, la loi évoque
l’existence de tensions entre la Charia, qui constitue la source principale de droit en Egypte, et le droit
pénal. En outre, la loi sera dénuée de tout pouvoir en l’absence de volonté politique sincère de juger
les auteurs de traite des personnes, du fait de l’existence de conceptions tronquées des femmes
victimes de la traite chez une partie du personnel de police et de justice. En conséquence et afin de
rendre cette loi effective, des formations sur les problèmes de traite et leurs implications sociales sont
nécessaires. L’auteur pense néanmoins que les bénéfices de la loi dépassent ses lacunes et pense que
ces dernières pourront être comblées par l’activisme judiciaire.
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Additional Information
Euro-Mediterranean Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration (CARIM)