Bahrain releases report on human trafficking

Manama: Bahrain said that more efforts would be exerted to eradicate human trafficking while releasing the first report by the Bahraini National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking. However, Abdullah Abdul Lateef, the foreign ministry undersecretary, said that trafficking in people was an international phenomenon that required joint efforts to help overcome it.

“While Bahrain remains deeply committed to combating trafficking in persons, I stress that this is an international issue and that governments an international organizations need to work together to tackle it. There is no country that is immune to its threats,” he said. “Bahrain looks forward to strong local, regional and international cooperation to achieve the highest levels of success in eliminating trafficking in persons,” he told a gathering of journalists and diplomats on Thursday.

According to the official, Bahrain has taken several actions to confront the issue.

“The first measure was to enact a law that banned trafficking in people. We have had court verdicts in cases and right now, there are three cases to be seen by courts. The interior ministry has established a dedicated unit to fight trafficking. There is also a hotline to report cases of trafficking and abuses,” Abdullah said. “Bahrain has also set up a shelter for foreign women as a precautionary measure.”

Bahrain also abolished the sponsorship system and foreigners can now switch jobs with the approval of their sponsors, the official said.