Qatar Supports International Efforts in Fight Against Trafficking in Human Beings

Geneva, May 28 (QNA) - Qatar has confirmed its commitment to support international efforts in the fight against trafficking in human beings, especially women and children. This came in a speech delivered by HE Sheikh Khalid Bin Jassim Al Thani, Director of the Office of Human Rights at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the 23rd session of the Human Rights Council, currently in session in Geneva within the framework of the third item "interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children. Sheikh Khalid Bin Jassim Al Thani commended the recent report by Ms. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo , the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, stressing that the report covers activities noted by the Special Rapporteur during the period from August 2012 to February 2013. He praised the Special Rapporteur's vision and related recommendations on the planned integration of an approach based on human rights in measures to combat all forms of exploitation of persons, especially women and children, which leads to human trafficking. HE Sheikh Khalid also explained hat the efforts of Qatar action to control the phenomenon of trafficking in human beings is based on three pillars: the first is derived from Sharia-based approach to combat and criminalize sexual exploitation, the second is based on the principles of human rights including freedom, Justice and Equality endorsed by the entire world, which is the minimum to maintain human dignity, while the third is based on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted by the United Nations as a minimum to enhance the dignity and respect for human rights. He underlined that Qatar's addressing the crime of trafficking in human beings characterized through the implementation and activation of the national plan to combat human trafficking for (2010 - 2015), citing the issuance of the anti-trafficking law No. (15) of 2011 within legislative framework . HE Sheikh Khaled bin Jassim Al Thani pointed to Qatar's efforts in combating human trafficking through the implementation of the national action plan to combat human trafficking (2010-2015). He noted that Law no. 15 for 2011 was issued to combat human trafficking and the Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking's (QFCHT) Qatari House for Lodging and Human Care was developed in line with the international standards in relation to providing appropriate housing for victims of human trafficking. HE Sheikh Khaled bin Jassim Al Thani underlined the awareness campaigns in the different Qatari media in order to educate the public on the culture of combating human trafficking. He added that Qatar has adopted the Arab initiative to build the national capacities of those working in the human trafficking field, noting that the state has donated $6 million to the initiative, which is jointly carried out with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Arab League. He said that Qatar has recently established a committee to follow up on human rights issues in relation to the hosting of the 2022 World Cup, adding that the step comes as part of the efforts to enhance and protect human rights as a strategic component of the comprehensive reform policy of the state. (END)