The international community observes World Day Against Trafficking in Persons every year on 30 July, an occasion aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of human trafficking, the suffering of its victims, and the need to promote and protect their rights. The day serves to increase public understanding of the scope of the issue, highlight the importance of prevention, identify and support victims, aid in their recovery and reintegration, and strengthen efforts to prevent trafficking by addressing its root causes and building community resilience.
The day also seeks to draw attention to the importance of prosecuting traffickers and combating impunity, by enhancing international co-operation, enforcing anti-trafficking laws and regulations, and mobilising collective efforts to eliminate this grave violation of human rights.
In this context, Qatar attaches great importance to combating human trafficking and has made significant efforts in this regard. It has developed a comprehensive legal and legislative framework, strengthened protection systems for victims, and enacted numerous laws that criminalise various forms of trafficking while ensuring victim support. These efforts also include prevention, awareness campaigns, and Doha’s accession to several relevant international and regional conventions.
The establishment of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT) is a clear and tangible indication of Qatar’s serious and sustained efforts to fight trafficking in all its forms. It also reflects the country’s firm commitment to addressing human trafficking crimes through an integrated legislative system.
As part of these widely welcomed efforts, the Ministry of Labour, represented by the NCCHT, launched in March the National Plan to Combat Human Trafficking 2024-2026. The plan aims to unify national efforts across governmental and civil society institutions to combat all types of human trafficking, establish mechanisms to detect and respond to early indicators, and take necessary measures to prevent trafficking, prosecute perpetrators, and provide protection for victims. It also lays the groundwork for effective national, regional, and international co-operation.
The launch of this plan reflects Qatar’s ongoing and sustained commitment to combating human trafficking, based on the principles of Islamic law, the Constitution, and national laws that prohibit all forms of exploitation and uphold the dignity and rights of every human being.
In this regard, Deputy Chair of the NCCHT Sara Abdullah Al Saadi said, in statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), that Qatar’s commitment to combating human trafficking stems from deep-rooted religious principles and humanitarian values that uphold human dignity and reject all forms of exploitation.
Al Saadi emphasised that Qatar’s efforts in this area are aligned with its National Vision 2030, which aims to build a just and secure society that respects human rights and combats all forms of exploitation. She noted that these efforts are grounded in the teachings of Islam, which prohibit oppression and enslavement, as well as in Qatar’s international obligations in this field.
She stated that the National Plan to Combat Human Trafficking is designed to establish a comprehensive and integrated national approach to fighting this crime. The plan focuses on enhancing prevention, protection, and prosecution efforts, in addition to developing local and international partnerships. It is built upon five main pillars, which are prevention of human trafficking crimes, protection and support for victims, law enforcement and prosecution of perpetrators, capacity-building and training, and national and international co-operation. The plan extends through 2026, ensuring the sustainability of national efforts and their adaptability to regional and international developments.
Among the key principles of the National Plan to Combat Human Trafficking is the criminalisation of all forms of human trafficking in accordance with Article (2) of Law No 15 of 2011, amended by Law No 5 of 2020. The plan also emphasises the clear distinction in terminology and concept between human trafficking and migrant smuggling, the recognition of the trafficked person as a victim entitled to human rights protections under the law, and the principle that punishments must be proportionate to the criminal act, with stricter penalties applied in aggravated cases.
The national plan places strong emphasis on capacity-building and skills development, through specialised training programmes targeting law enforcement personnel, judges, and professionals in the health and social sectors. It also includes the creation of a national database, the enhancement of the national referral system, and support for research in the field of combating human trafficking. These efforts aim to strengthen institutional performance and ensure the sustainability of Qatar’s national response to this crime.
The NCCHT has been keen to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons to highlight Qatar’s solidarity with the international community and its support for global efforts to combat human trafficking, with the aim of promoting and safeguarding the rights of women, children, workers, and all segments of society.
Many interested parties and observers at the local, regional, and international levels have commended the efforts made by Qatar to combat human trafficking and acknowledged the numerous and distinguished measures and procedures it has undertaken in this regard. These efforts aim to ensure a safe working environment for labourers, who enjoy a wide and comprehensive range of rights and privileges that guarantee decent work conditions and a secure life in the country.
They also praised the development of the legislative framework, the implementation of preventive programmes, and the launch of training and capacity-building initiatives. Additionally, they highlighted the State’s commitment to strengthening international co-operation on this vital issue.
Moreover, they applauded the outstanding efforts of the Ministry of Labour, represented by the NCCHT, and its fruitful co-operation and constructive partnerships in the field of combating human trafficking. These efforts are exemplified through various agreements and memoranda of understanding signed with numerous countries, entities, and organisations concerned with addressing this issue. This reflects Qatar’s firm commitment to eradicating human trafficking and clearly demonstrates the concrete steps taken by the state to confront this phenomenon.
In the same context, the NCCHT established the Humanitarian Care Home as part of Qatar’s comprehensive approach to combating human trafficking. The centre operates under a legal framework supported by swift and effective implementation mechanisms, providing necessary support and protection to victims while working to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into society.
The Humanitarian Care Home also seeks to offer protection and social care to workers in need, in accordance with specific criteria and regulations, while raising awareness of the importance of safeguarding the rights of its residents. These principles align with the pillars of social development outlined in Qatar National Vision 2030, which underscores the importance of justice and equality across society, while promoting peace, social inclusion, tolerance, and mutual respect.
The Ministry of Labour, represented by the NCCHT, in co-ordination with the Permanent Secretariat of the Governmental Forum to Combat Trafficking in Persons in the Middle East, organised the Government Forum to Combat Trafficking in Persons in the Middle East in May 2023. Participants discussed current challenges, emerging developments, and updates on mechanisms to combat human trafficking in the region. The forum also served as a platform for exchanging experiences and best practices, and for exploring ways to enhance the capacity of professionals working in this critical field.
There is global consensus that human trafficking constitutes a grave violation of fundamental human rights, including the rights to freedom, security, and personal dignity. It is incompatible with the principles of divine religions and universally shared human values. This has led to a growing emphasis on the need to intensify efforts to combat this phenomenon at the local, regional, and international levels to uphold and protect human rights.
There is no doubt that the global focus on the need to strengthen international co-operation stems from the complex nature of human trafficking and its connection to a wide range of crimes. It is often perpetrated by organised criminal networks and affects a large and growing number of individuals who are exploited across and within national borders through violence, coercion, deception, and fraud.
Accordingly, addressing human trafficking requires co-ordinated international action, effective partnerships, and the enactment of strict laws and legislation that address the root causes of the phenomenon — be they social, economic, cultural, political, ideological, or otherwise.
The measures adopted by Qatar, and the achievements it continues to realise, have significantly contributed to the creation of a safe and fair working environment, one that the country can proudly showcase to the world. These accomplishments have positioned Qatar as a distinguished and effective partner in the global fight against human trafficking — a transnational crime that knows no borders or nationalities.
The National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking’s observance of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, which was established by the UN General Assembly in December 2013, reflects Qatar’s belief in human rights. As a country that annually receives large numbers of migrant workers, Qatar is firmly committed to ensuring a safe environment and dignified life for all who reside on its territory. Furthermore, Qatar’s inclusion in international reports among the countries making tangible progress in the fight against human trafficking — a heinous violation of human rights — demonstrates growing global recognition of the state’s efforts and achievements in this field. (QNA)
