Qatar’s successes in tackling human trafficking

Human trafficking, perhaps better known as modern slavery, is a crime that impacts an estimated 25mn victims throughout the world. Deceived or forced into service in brothels, hotels, construction sites, and homes, its victims are trapped in a multi-billion dollar industry that weakens the rule of law and strengthens criminal networks.Last week the United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released the 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report, an annual publication documenting the efforts of 187 governments in combating human trafficking. The report is as an important tool to encourage all governments, including the United States, to do more to address the problem. As well as providing a snapshot of global trends in this terrible trade, the report also highlights the importance of comprehensive anti-trafficking laws, victim-centred law enforcement, trauma-informed care, and programmes and policies that keep people from being exploited.    This year’s report ranked Qatar at Tier Two, the second highest of the four possible rankings. In the report, the State Department explained that Qatar demonstrated increasing efforts to fight human trafficking. As is true for all countries, including the United States, the report also notes that there is still more to be done.  The State Department examines three areas when making determinations for countries’ rankings – prosecutions, protection, and prevention.  In each area Qatar made clear improvements in the past year.  For the first time, Qatar prosecuted over 100 cases involving forced labour last year. Qatari labour courts handed down more judgments in the first half of 2017 than in all of 2016 – a strong signal to criminals that Qatar is serious about confronting modern slavery.  Qatar expanded protections for vulnerable domestic workers by passing new legislation outlining several important rights for domestic workers and mandating a minimum wage. Qatar also made progress in prevention through expanded awareness-raising campaigns and advancing a ground-breaking e-contract system for new workers which aims to prevent problems like contract substitution and abusive recruitment fees.Qatar’s seriousness about passing reforms and addressing ongoing challenges was also highlighted in January 2018 at the US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue when the foreign ministers of both countries signed the US-Qatar Anti-Trafficking Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Since the signing of the MOU, the US embassy and partners throughout multiple Qatari ministries have held numerous workshops, trainings, and awareness raising activities.  Our joint partnership and collaboration to defeat this crime has never been stronger. National governments bear the primary responsibility in combating human trafficking, but they cannot do it alone. This year, the introduction to the TIP Report highlights the importance of local communities in safeguarding the places they call home from traffickers.  Civil society organisations in Qatar such as Msheirib Museums, local charities, the National Human Rights Committee, and Qatar Foundation for Social Work are key partners in addressing the issue. The US government acknowledges the ongoing work of the International Labour Organisation and multiple international labour unions and NGOs in Qatar. Because trafficking is an international crime, it requires an international response and Qatar is well placed to become a model for the region.For the first time, Qatar’s National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking will release its own TIP report this year highlighting Qatar’s ongoing challenges and successes. We commend the National Committee for undertaking this vital work and its drive to promote transparency and improve performance across the government.Ultimately, the message of this year’s report speaks to the power of collaborative efforts and the strength of community ties.  Modern slavery is a reality here in Qatar just as it is a reality in every region and country in the world.  But we can all find ways to contribute to the solution.  In doing so, we all take steps to end human trafficking, protect its most vulnerable victims, and make our communities and world a safer place to live, grow up, and flourish.