Bahrain’s efforts to combat human trafficking commended

New York, July 16 (BNA): Cabinet Affairs Minister Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Mutawa held a meeting in New York with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in charge of International Migration Louise Arbour. The meeting was attended by the Bahrain Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) Chief Executive Officer, Head of the National Committee Against Human Trafficking, Osama Al-Absi. It was on the sidelines of Bahrain’s ongoing preparations to attend the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on sustainable development. The minister stressed Bahrain’s strides in combating human tracking, relying on national legislations which comply with international standards. He said that Bahrain has become the first country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to reach Tier 1 in the US Department of State Trafficking in Persons (TiP) Report. He underlined the drive of the Government, chaired by His Royal Highness the Prime Minister to protect workers’ rights, reiterating keenness on combating human trafficking strenuously and respecting human rights and the expatriate communities, on the basis of justice and equality. Al-Mutawa affirmed Bahrain’s keenness on expanding cooperation with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) towards bolstering efforts to combat human trafficking and protect expatriate workers’ rights and duties. Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in charge of International Migration Louise Arbour hailed the efforts undertaken by the Government of Bahrain to protect expatriate workers and combat human trafficking, describing the Kingdom as a role model in the region and the world. She reviewed with the minister The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, the first, intergovernmentally negotiated agreement which will be endorsed officially at a high-level conference in December, in the city of Marrakech, Morocco. . The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General hailed Bahrain’s support to the agreement and strides in combating human trafficking. She congratulated Bahrain on the advanced raking, wishing the Kingdom’s further progress and prosperity.