The Arab Initiative to strengthen national capacities to combat human trafficking in Arab countries

Under the patronage of Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser and in partnership with the Qatar Foundation to Combat Human Trafficking (QFCHT) through an in-kind contribution, the League of Arab States (LAS) and the United Nations Office against Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Arab Initiative to Strengthen National Capacities to Combat Human Trafficking in Arab Countries was launched in 2012 and aims to strengthen national capacities in the 22 member countries/territories of the League of Arab States to effectively combat human trafficking, through technical assistance in (i) establishing national and regional coalitions to combat human trafficking (ii) promoting ratification and implementation implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Particularly Women and Children (Trafficking in Persons Protocol), (iii) strengthen the institutional and human capacity of criminal justice systems, (iv) improve mechanisms for appropriate identification, referral, support and protection of victims of trafficking and (v) raise awareness of the crime and its devastating consequences on individuals and societies as a whole.

Since the launch of the “Arab Initiative to Strengthen National Capacities to Combat Human Trafficking in Arab Countries” at the Human Trafficking Forum held in Doha in January 2012 and in partnership with the QFHCT and the Arab League, UNODC organized sixteen capacity building activities and approximately 800 law enforcement professionals, criminal justice practitioners, members of national anti-human trafficking committees, legislators, social workers and representatives Media from across the Arab region received various specialized training in areas related to combating human trafficking. In addition to capacity building activities, and in association with the Arab League Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, UNODC has developed concepts and procedural modalities for national, subregional and regional in order to strengthen cooperation between different sectors/agencies/countries, and ensure the sustainability of the results obtained by the initiative beyond its life cycle. In addition, several studies, some of which are ongoing, have been undertaken to review existing anti-trafficking legislation in the Arab region and assess the capacities of service providers assisting victims and witnesses in order to establish useful best practices. in terms of care and protection of victims and improve the legal and regulatory framework for the fight against human trafficking in the Arab region. Arab Initiative partners work closely with various specialized UN agencies and international organizations to benefit from best practices, lessons learned, methodologies and available tools.

For more details on the initiative, please visit the following initiative website:
www.qatarfcht.com