Qatar steps up national fight against human trafficking
<p>Doha, Qatar: Qatar is stepping up its efforts to detect, investigate, prevent and combat human trafficking through a coordinated national framework focused on prevention, victim protection, prosecution and stronger cooperation between government institutions and international partners.</p> <p>An official at the Criminal Investigation Department, Captain Abdullah Khalifa al Mahmoud stated this…
Doha, Qatar: The nation is ramping up its national fight against human trafficking through a comprehensive framework focused on prevention, victim protection, prosecution, and enhanced cooperation between government bodies and international allies, according to the Criminal Investigation Department. Captain Abdullah Khalifa al Mahmoud warned that human trafficking remains a significant threat to vulnerable individuals and communities, prompting authorities to intensify investigations, protect victims, coordinate across departments, and raise public awareness to prevent exploitation and secure convictions for offenders.
Announcing the establishment of the National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking (NCCHT) in 2017, Nada Fowzy Muhammed Salim explained that the committee coordinates national policies and initiatives, supports awareness and education programs, safeguards and rehabilitates victims, and strengthens regional and international collaborations.
The committee's second National Action Plan (2024-2026) outlines five strategic pillars: prevention, protection, prosecution, capacity building, and cooperation. Dedicated care facilities receive victims, while specialised Ministry of Interior units investigate suspected trafficking cases.
The judiciary has established specialised chambers within the Criminal Court and Court of Appeal to handle trafficking cases, complemented by judges trained in the matter. The NCCHT operates a multilingual 24-hour hotline, intensifying its response through technology, training, and international partnerships. Assistant Head of the Residence Affairs and Human Trafficking Prosecution, Majed Khamis Al Khelaifi, detailed the prosecution's role in handling residence and human trafficking cases, including assessment, charging, court referral, handling appeals, and representing the prosecution before the judiciary.
The prosecution also contributes to prevention by raising awareness and education, assigning jurisdiction, and deploying trained teams to identify potential trafficking indicators early on.
Written by urgent.news from The Peninsula Qatar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
