Ministry welcomes UN report
Published: 8th July 2007
BAHRAIN has welcomed the US report on human trafficking, saying it will only help in tackling the illegal trade.
The Foreign Ministry says action is already being taken to combat the problem here, but reiterated that it was not obliged to do anything as a result of the report.
It also disputed the claim that Bahrain had been blacklisted, saying that Bahrain had simply been placed on a “Tier Three” list of countries considered the worst offenders of human trafficking.
“This tier cannot be identified as a blacklist,” it said in a statement.
Ministry welcomes UN report
Published: 8th July 2007
BAHRAIN has welcomed the US report on human trafficking, saying it will only help in tackling the illegal trade.
The Foreign Ministry says action is already being taken to combat the problem here, but reiterated that it was not obliged to do anything as a result of the report.
It also disputed the claim that Bahrain had been blacklisted, saying that Bahrain had simply been placed on a “Tier Three” list of countries considered the worst offenders of human trafficking.
“This tier cannot be identified as a blacklist,” it said in a statement.
The ministry also highlighted steps that are being taken here to undermine human traffickers.
“It (the report) does not, in any way, dictate any procedures to be taken by a country,” it said.
“Moreover, the government of Bahrain’s efforts in combating trafficking in persons is based on international humanitarian conventions and specifications.”
The ministry said the government of Bahrain had taken a number of measures to combat human trafficking through its legislative, executive and judicial authorities, as well as civil society institutions.
It cited the country’s constitution, which guarantees that all people are equal in human dignity and that personal freedom is guaranteed by law.
“The government of Bahrain recognises the importance of taking legislative measures in prosecuting offenders of human rights and has thus drafted a law criminalising human trafficking, which was discussed and unanimously approved by the Cabinet,” said the ministry.
Cabinet approved the draft law shortly after the report was published and forwarded to parliament for approval.
A symposium was also organised on May 29 by the Social Development Ministry, in co-ordination with the Foreign Ministry, on ‘Trafficking in Persons: A Global and a Local Perspective’.
“The symposium aimed at raising awareness on the definition of trafficking in persons from an international aspect and to highlight the measures taken by the government and civil society in combating human trafficking,” said the ministry.
Two telephone hotlines have also been set up at the Labour Ministry, through which legally qualified staff can give advice and guidance to victims of trafficking: One deals with labourers’ complaints and the other with trafficking cases and those suffering from abuse or violence.
“In addition to the above-mentioned telephone hotlines, the Labour Ministry has appointed a number of inspectors who investigate possible offences and ensure the well-being of foreign workers, both men and women,” said the statement.
It added that in last November, the government opened the Dar Al Aman centre for protecting and providing shelter for women from all nationalities, who face abuse or who are victims of crimes.
Meanwhile, in 2002, an inter-ministerial task force was established bringing together various ministries.
“The task force meets regularly to follow on Bahrain’s national plan of action to combat trafficking in persons and to implement further measures of the strategy and to consider new initiatives to combat trafficking and to assist victims,” said the statement.
It also said the government works closely with the International Organisation for Migration and the Migrant Workers Protection Society to raise awareness of, and to combat, trafficking in persons and all forms of violence and abuse against foreign workers.
© Gulf Daily News