A two-day workshop on National Capacities in Controlling Trafficking in Persons, Crimes and Criminal Investigations concluded in Bahrain yesterday.

It was jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Organisation for Migration with participation of NGOs in the kingdom, International Organisation for Migration and UN experts, according to a report in the Gulf Daily News.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under-Secretary and National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking chairman Abdulla Abdullatif Abdulla reiterated the leadership's commitment to enhancing human rights, as well as commended their efforts to fight trafficking and secure the rights of expatriates.

Abdulla thanked the expatriate community in Bahrain for extending their co-operation in building the economic, cultural and social ethos of the country.

He also welcomed the exchange of ideas and experiences discussed in the workshop that have led to drawing up a number of recommendations.

The second day of the workshop was dedicated to a number of topics that related to the issues of trafficking in persons and ways to combat them.

Magistrate and adviser Adel Majid reviewed the international co-operation in areas of combating trafficking in persons, noting the importance of the enforcement of joint action through bilateral agreements, the application of international legislation, and other ways to fight such crimes.

Majid said that Bahrain has taken practical initiatives to counter trafficking such as community awareness programmes and building capabilities of relevant authorities concerned.

Furthermore, he urged GCC states to adopt a comprehensive system to combat human trafficking including the launch of a plan on combating human trafficking that focuses on building national capabilities, enacting laws, and extending the umbrella of insurance to cover all trafficking victims, alongside training programmes and leaflets.

UN expert and executive director of the project Protection against Human Trafficking in Hopkins University, USA, Professor Mohammed Mattar highlighted the legal shortcomings of a number international constitutions that need amendments to consolidate anti-trafficking legislation.

He also pointed out the types of compensation to victims within international jurisdictions. The workshop also witnessed heated debates and comments from the part of the participants and audiences on the recommended solutions to promote the governmental and community efforts in anti-trafficking and human rights. – TradeArabia News Service