Experts suggest ways to combat human trafficking

Building national capacities to effectively combat human trafficking and raising awareness among employers about the laws that govern their relationship with workers were among the 11 key recommendations made at the first “Consultative meeting on combating trafficking in persons in Qatar.”

The event, organised jointly by Qatar Foundation for Social Protection and Rehabilitation (QFSPR) and the UN Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and the Arab Region, concluded yesterday.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Interior and Public Prosecution took part in the event along with a number of legal experts and social workers from QFSPR.

Various issues were discussed at the meeting, which came up with the following 11 recommendations:

^• Build national capacities that will be effective in combating human trafficking.

• Exchange of experiences between the authorities concerned so that they are aware of developments in the area of human trafficking as well as the modern methods of combating the crime.

• Launch of joint media campaigns by the authorities to raise awareness about the dangers and risks involved and their negative impact, with a focus on Law No 15 of 2011.

• Encourage non-government organisations and civil society foundations to be engaged in effective participation in the efforts against human trafficking.

• Establishment of a joint database containing relevant information about cases pertaining to human trafficking.

• Keep pace with global activities with regard to combating human trafficking and participating in international conferences and forums related to the issue.

• Build co-operative and integrated partnerships between all organisations concerned, including the QFSPR, Search and Follow Up Department, Public Prosecution and the Supreme Judicial Council.

• Raise awareness among employers about the laws that govern the relationship between them and workers.

• Develop alliances and partnerships at the regional and international levels to deal with cases of human trafficking.

• Work on the development of an integrated national strategy for Qatar, which will be in line with Arab and global strategies for combating human trafficking.

• Create specialised programmes in law faculties and social science sections to study the issue in terms of practical implementation.

The meeting was of great importance as it gave officials, experts, researchers, NGOs and law-enforcement officers the opportunity to meet and exchange views on the concepts involved, it was observed.