Egypt: trafficking in persons and COVID-19 : emerging trends in Egypt

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted nearly every aspect of society, and impacted global supply chains of all kinds, including the illicit harboring, trade, coercion, force, and exploitation of human beings, more commonly known as trafficking in persons. The global interruption of movement and implementation of COVID-mitigating policies by governments around the world caused interruptions in migration, trade, tourism, and many facets of the economy; at more local levels the pandemic kept people indoors, interrupting or greatly changing work environments for all. This research, which was conducted through primary and secondary means, seeks to understand the impact of COVID and related policies on trafficking in persons in Egypt, a significant country in regional migration and a cross-section of many forms of trafficking. As a data-poor nation, the bulk of the findings were measured through interviews with professionals in the field, resulting in what is a rare collection of insights from various experts from different institutions, academic and professional backgrounds, and thematic interests. The results of this research paint a landscape in Egypt which has shifted greatly during the pandemic, giving rise to new forms of trafficking, such as online exploitation, exacerbating others, such as summer/child marriages, and creating an ever-increasing pool of at-risk and vulnerable peoples.