United States ambassador-at-large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons John Cotton Richmond visited Msheireb Museums and discussed the 2019 Trafficking in Persons report with Hafiz Ali, director, Msheireb Museums.
Ambassador Richmond met with Qatari officials and organisations to discuss efforts to combat human trafficking, and Qatar’s efforts to end it.
The crime of human trafficking is global in scope, affecting every country on earth, including the US, a release issued by the US embassy said.
The annual Trafficking in Persons Report has become a significant part of the Msheireb Museums Library, specifically Bin Jelmood House, which provides a space for reflection on slavery and how it has evolved into modern forms of human exploitation.
Every year the US State Department releases the Trafficking in Persons Report, which examines the efforts made by governments around the world to fight this crime. Ending human trafficking globally requires a coordinated approach between the public and private sectors and civil society in all countries, and an important part of the strategy to combat modern slavery is raising public awareness. Bin Jelmood House provides an opportunity for visitors to make a personal commitment to joining the fight against all forms of human trafficking.
Ali said: “We are honoured to add this copy of the report to our museum’s library. Bin Jelmood House, part of Msheireb Museums in Msheireb Downtown Doha, provides an opportunity for visitors to make a personal commitment to stand against the various forms of human trafficking. As an educational platform, the museum has been raising awareness, and gaining local and international attention.”
Richmond said the Msheireb Museums’ modern slavery exhibit highlights the importance of combating human trafficking. “The US stands by Qatar in its efforts to raise public awareness and taking action to stop the crime of human trafficking, which affects not just our two countries, but every country in the world. With sustained initiatives, we hope the Bin Jelmood House will continue to do its part to help raise awareness of human trafficking , and ultimately generate efforts to protect victims.”
The US and Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding on anti-trafficking in 2018. Since then, the two countries have worked with more than 30 implementing partner offices and organisations to implement over a dozen initiatives including capacity building, training, networking, exchanges, consultations, and awareness raising including events like this one.
The American chargé d’affaires attended the July 30 conference on ‘World Day against Human Trafficking’ hosted by the Qatari government and the UN’s International Labour Organisation, which coincided with the opening of the first Trafficking in Persons shelter for men and women in Qatar. “The shelter opening is just one of several goals of the memorandum of understanding.”
US delegation learns about NHRC’s role in spreading rights culture
National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Vice-Chairman Dr Mohamed bin Saif al-Kuwari and assistant secretary-general Sultan bin Hassan al-Jamali met with a delegation of senior researchers and politicians in the US Congress.
The US delegation’s visit to the committee was aimed at encouraging the work of national human rights institutions, non-governmental organisations and community organisations to provide support and assistance to people whose rights may be violated.
The meeting dealt with the role of the press and media in providing support vulnerable people, including workers’ category, as well as the role of the NHRC in spreading the culture of human rights and its working methods in receiving complaints and facilitating access to the petitioners, whether through physical appearance at the committee’s headquarters, through the offices of the communities it established, or via its hotlines and official website, as well as its role in addressing human rights violations resulting from the blockade. (QNA)
Richmond in discussion with Msheireb Museums officials.
