Oman continues work to combat human trafficking

The Sultanate of Oman joined countries from around the globe to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, which falls on 30th July each year.

The theme this year is “Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind”.

Oman continues its relentless efforts to combat human trafficking. The Sultanate was one of the first countries to enact legislation to eliminate this crime, namely the law on combating human trafficking.

In a statement, Sheikh Khalifa Alharthy, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for Political Affairs and Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT) said that Oman has and continues to pay great attention to combating human trafficking and all practices associated with it.

He said that combating this crime against human principles and values requires regional and international cooperation, as Oman seeks to protect people and their dignity.

Sheikh Khalifa said that Oman, represented by the NCCHT, continues to work diligently in accordance with internal and regional laws, treaties and conventions related to combating human trafficking to address this phenomenon. He added that the Committee works in cooperation with its partners in civil society at the national and international levels to combat human trafficking, uphold the rule of law and preserve human values.

The Chairman of the NCCHT said that the Sultanate has made unremitting efforts to confront this crime, based on the Basic Law of the State, which guarantees justice and equality for all segments of society and maintains security and protection for citizens and residents from any transgressions affecting their dignity and legitimate rights.

Sheikh Khalifa explained that Oman’s government cooperates with institutions in the private sector, as well as the civil society in this regard to combat human trafficking.

He said that the NCCHT has been working hard to combat the problem completing the preparation of  a new draft law to combat human trafficking, in cooperation with international and local experts, as well as the the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Judge Dr Hatem representing the UNODC Regional Office for the Gulf Cooperation Council praised Oman's efforts to combat the crime of human trafficking through developing a national framework, which includes the establishment of a national referral system, and developing the capabilities of law enforcement agencies, as well as the labour, human rights and criminal justice systems.

At a high-level international meeting on combating human trafficking held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the Sultanate of Oman is on the record as stating that human trafficking is not compatible with its principles and values.

Oman also sated its determination to eradicate this phenomenon by all legal means and the work of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT). This includes the accession of the Sultanate of Oman, by Royal Decree No. 46/2020, to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which grants individuals, including workers, their rights and prevents them from being subjected to any violation.

Oman is also making extensive efforts to improve working conditions and guarantee workers’ rights in terms of occupational safety and health, and guarantee. These efforts include the issue of the revised Labour Law by Royal Decree on July 25th this year.

The law covers labour issues, such as work contract, employer and worker obligations, working hours, vacations, wages, employment of minors, occupational safety and health standards at work, settlement of labour disputes, penalties, and others.

The NCCHT plays an important role in Oman's efforts to combat human trafficking and is responsible for developing a national plan to combat this crime, based on the provisions of Article 22 of the Anti-Human Trafficking Law issued by Royal Decree No. 126/2008.

The Committee conducts studies and research and carries out media campaigns to combat the crime of human trafficking and protect the victims. It acts as a centre for coordinating national efforts in the field of combating human trafficking.

The NCCHT draws up its national action plan every three years based on national and international reports and recommendations on combatting human trafficking, through the laws and regulations of the Sultanate of Oman.

Oman provides a telephone hotline for reporting the crime of human trafficking, operating around the clock in Arabic and English. Reports of human trafficking can also be made through the committee's website,  in 14 languages.

As part of the effort to prosecute crimes of human trafficking in the Sultanate of Oman dedicated offices have been set up within the Public Prosecution, the Royal Oman Police, the Ministry of Labour and the Foreign Ministry.

The effort also includes a rapid intervention team headed by the Public Prosecution and comprises the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Social Development and the Royal Oman Police.

The Department for combating human trafficking at the Royal Oman Police has been upgraded to an administration that includes four departments: monitoring and information gathering, international cooperation, case affairs, and coordination and follow-up.

In order to preserve the values ​​of humanity, maintain the status of people and protect them from any form of slavery, the Royal Oman Police, represented by the Directorate General of Inquiries and Criminal Investigations, works to combat the crime of human trafficking, through dedicated and professional work.

The Ministry of Labour also plays an important role in combating human trafficking. It includes a special section for combating human trafficking, which is concerned with investigating complaints related to human trafficking and providing victims with necessary care.

The section also organises awareness and educational campaigns to prevent human trafficking, cooperates with local and international units in combating human trafficking and exchanges information and experiences, as well as providing training and vocational rehabilitation for victims to increase their chances of obtaining legitimate and sustainable job opportunities.

The Department of Family Protection at the Directorate General of Family Development provides protection and assistance to victims of human trafficking through a number of programmes, covering care and rehabilitation, social care and health care.

The Department also provides temporary accommodation for the victims.

The Ministry of Social Development takes measures through its legal specialists, to guarantee the protection of victims.

The Directorate General of Family Department has signed memoranda of cooperation with a number of civil society institutions in the Sultanate of Oman with regard to combating human trafficking.

Combating human trafficking is a national responsibility, which requires the solidarity of all members of society to confront and combat it in cooperation with the departments concerned. In this context, the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT) plays a leading roles and provides protection and assistance to victims.

The national plan devised by the NCCHT to combat human trafficking for the period 2021-2023 includes many themes, most importantly training front-line workers and enhancing community awareness by launching campaigns targeting the groups most at risk of falling victim to human trafficking.

The NCCHT also organises many programmes, workshops, seminars and conferences to raise awareness on human trafficking.

This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.