Arab initiative to build national capacities to combat human trafficking in Arab countries

The Arab Initiative to Build National Capacities to Combat Human Trafficking in Arab Countries

Under the patronage of Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser and in collaboration with the Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking (QFCHT) through an in-kind contribution, the League of Arab States (LAS) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), It Arab Initiative to Build National Capacities to Combat Human Trafficking in Arab Countries was launched in 2012 and aims to build national capacities in the 22 Member States/Territories of the League of Arab States to effectively combat human trafficking, through technical assistance in (i) establishing national and regional coalitions to combat trafficking in human beings (ii) promoting the ratification and implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (Trafficking in Persons Protocol) , (iii) strengthening the institutional and human capacities of criminal justice systems, (iv) improving mechanisms for the proper identification, referral, support and protection of victims of trafficking in human beings and (v) raising awareness of the crime and its devastating consequences for individuals and societies as a whole.

Since the launch of the “Arab Initiative to Build National Capacities to Combat Human Trafficking in the Arab Countries” at the Human Trafficking Forum held in Doha in January 2012 and in partnership with QFHCT and the LAS, UNODC has organized sixteen capacity building activities and About 800 professionals from law enforcement agencies, criminal justice practitioners, members of national anti-trafficking committees, legislators, social workers and media representatives from across the Arab region received various specialized training courses in the field of anti-trafficking in human beings. In addition to capacity building activities, and in collaboration with the LAS Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit, UNODC has developed concepts and procedural conditions for national, sub-regional and regional networks to enhance cooperation between different sectors/agencies/countries, and ensure sustainability of the results achieved by the initiative, even after its life cycle. In addition, several studies have been conducted, some of which are ongoing, to review existing anti-trafficking legislation in the Arab region and to assess the capacities of service providers assisting victims and witnesses, in order to provide useful best practices in the field to establish victim care and protection. improving the legal and regulatory framework for combating human trafficking in the Arab region. The Arab Initiative partners work closely with several specialized UN agencies and international organizations to benefit from best practices, lessons learned, methodologies and available tools.

For more information about the initiative, please visit the following initiative website:
www.qatarfcht.com