Bahrain's anti-human trafficking strides highlighted

Manama, July 29 (BNA):The Kingdom of Bahrain will join the International Community’s celebration of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, approved by the UN General Assembly in 2013, and observed worldwide every July 30. On the occasion, Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Osama bin Abdulla Al-Absi, called for stepping up efforts to end such a dangerous crime that is considered a blatant violation of human rights that affects thousands of men, women and children who fall preys in the hands of traffickers inside or outside their countries, noting that all countries in the word are affected by the human trafficking phenomenon in one way or another. Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, had issued, on July 11, an edict on reforming the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons, under the chairmanship of the CEO of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), Osama Al-Absi, and membership of 10 persons representing the relevant official sides and NGOs. Al-Absi revealed that the committee is currently preparing its executive plan for the next two years so as to continue its efforts at all levels, stressing that Bahrain is constantly updating and developing its legislation and legal tools to eradicate such a crime domestically, within the concepts of prevention ahead of its occurrence and adequate treatment if it occurs. He asserted that respect for individuals’ rights and equality among them regardless of colour or race is integral in the Bahraini society’s culture, based on equality among all human beings irrespective of any differences among them. This, Al-Absi said, has enable the kingdom to maintain the stability of its ranking in the annual report issued by the US State Department recently on country’s dealing with the trafficking in persons crime, noting that Bahrain maintained its place in the Tier 2 thanks to its increasing efforts in combating the crime. The US State Department’s report highlighted Bahrain’s significant efforts in combating trafficking in persons, and praised the mechanisms adopted to investigate into human trafficking cases. It also hailed the efforts being exerted to train those in charge of dealing with the victims. The report also highlighted the issuance of the National Referral System by the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons. “The government demonstrated increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period; therefore, Bahrain remained on Tier 2. The government demonstrated increasing efforts by developing a national referral mechanism and disseminating the strategy to relevant government and civil society stakeholders. It investigated potential trafficking cases and continued its anti-trafficking training for various officials during the year,” the report said. The first of its kind in the region, the National Referral System contributes to consolidating combating human efforts, as well as to organizing and regulating the role of each party and mechanism in dealing with trafficking cases or potential cases. Al-Absi underlined the keenness of the kingdom, through its government and national entities, to remain free of such a global crime in all its forms and manifestations, and to confront it through creating the necessary mechanisms to eliminate it, citing the procedures taken in coordination and cooperation among all the relevant sides to combat such a crime within the visions and mechanisms of the National Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Al-Absi stressed that the trafficking in persons is a crime that contravenes the principles of divine religions, as well as those of human principles guaranteed by the national legislation and international treaties and standards. Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Dr. Hatem Ali stressed that the Kingdom of Bahrain is leading the way in compliance with international standards and requirements, noting that the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons, LMRA and the relevant government entities are exerting tremendous efforts to improve the work environment, which, he said, entitles Bahrain to be a regional leader in combating trafficking in persons. He also lauded the launch of the National Referral Mechanism for Victims of Trafficking in Persons, the first of its kind mechanism to deal with victims and potential victms. The system is a new step towards strengthening efforts to combat trafficking in persons after the inauguration of the Expat Protection Centre and shelter. International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Director-General William Lacy Swing, had also lauded the achievements of the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons. In a letter to LMRA Chief, Al-Absi, IOM director-general considered the Kingdom of Bahrain as a global role model for its practices in dealing with foreign workers, praising its efforts in guaranteeing fair recruitment, protection of foreign workers and combating trafficking in persons. He also praised the MRA Centre for Protection of Expat workers and shelter, which can accommodate up to 200 people, noting that it is considered among the first of its kind and offers valuable safety and security for victims or vulnerable expats who could fall prey to traffickers