Qatar, UN sign declaration of intent to establish training centre

The State of Qatar, represented by the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, and the United Nations, represented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), signed a declaration of intent to establish a Doha-based international center for training and research specialized in combating human trafficking, under the UN supervision.

Minister of Labor and Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking H E Dr. Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri signed the declaration on behalf of the Qatari side. H E Executive Director of the Vienna-based UNODC Ghada Waly signed the declaration on behalf of the UN.

The signing of the declaration of intent to establish the international center for training and research to combat human trafficking is an extension of the Arab initiative to build national capacities in Arab countries in the field of combating human trafficking, and in line with the prominent role of the State of Qatar in curbing human trafficking crimes since the Doha Forum in 2010, especially after the establishment of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking in the State of Qatar.

The declaration of intent to establish the international center for training and research to combat human trafficking is the culmination of many years of intensive work since the launch of the Arab initiative to combat human trafficking, to be a global center specialized in preparing studies and research in this field.

After completing the required procedures, the Doha-based center aims to benefit from the achievements of the Arab initiative to build national capacities in the Arab countries and work to expand the scope of its results through the use of the tools, capabilities, and policies resulting from it.

The center will work on preparing a database and information that includes legislation related to combating human trafficking, the process of monitoring violations, and submitting and publishing international reports in this field, in a way that contributes to activating the UN mechanisms and standards in various countries.

The State of Qatar has sponsored the Arab initiative to build national capacities in the field of combating human trafficking in Arab countries in cooperation with the UNODC and the Arab League. It has also supported the UN Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons since its adoption and has taken many legislative measures, including Law No. 15 of 2011 on combating human trafficking, which criminalizes trafficking in all its forms and patterns, Law No. 21 of 2015 that abolished the sponsorship system, and Law No. 15 of 2017 on domestic workers.

The National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, which was established by Cabinet Decision No. 15 of 2017, aims to prepare and publish an annual report on efforts to prevent, monitor, and combat human trafficking, develop a national plan to combat human trafficking, prepare a database of relevant international legislation, and raise awareness through the means of human trafficking through holding conferences and seminars, preparing pamphlets, training programs, and others to achieve the objectives of the committee.

UNODC was established in 1997 as a result of the merging of the United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention and the United Nations International Drug Control Program. It aims to control the spread of drugs and reduce crime.