Despite global efforts to combat human trafficking, the number of people exposed to this trade is increasing every year. Global estimates indicate that up to 800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across international borders every year, besides those who are exploited in cases of prostitution, forced labor, domestic slavery and other methods used by violators. This is what led human trafficking to be considered the third largest profitable criminal activity after drug and weapons smuggling in the world.
From this standpoint, the concerned authorities in the Sultanate of Oman are working to deal decisively with these issues, and to educate individuals and institutions about the need to exercise caution, so they do not fall into legal accountability.
Recently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation and partnership with the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organized an introductory symposium on the subject of human trafficking, in the presence of those interested in these issues and laws. The symposium addressed several topics, including the concept of human trafficking and its types, focusing on the current situation in the country, in addition to the efforts made to combat it, and the economic, social and psychological effects of this phenomenon, in addition to the role of civil society institutions in addressing these issues.
International conventions affirm that human trafficking is a crime, a violation of human rights, and a form of modern slavery, as it involves the transfer or recruitment of men, women and children through deception or coercion for the purpose of exploitation. The foreign expert at the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that these methods are sometimes used by some against the families of workers coming from foreign countries under threat, which forces them to work in prostitution or be transferred from one place to another without their desire and to work long hours, and not to report these violations so their family members don’t be exposed to any harm or killing. In the case of construction work, the expert believes that some commercial establishments in the region, including Oman, are placing large groups of expatriate workers in narrow living spaces in large numbers, which violates local and international laws, not to mention the long hours that some of them work without taking into consideration. Their rights on holidays and official occasions, and in weather conditions characterized by high temperatures are ignored sometimes.
From this standpoint, the expert sees the need to raise awareness among institutions and members of Omani society in these issues, stressing the necessity of working to establish an Omani association to combat human trafficking, similar to other professional associations that work on various issues of concern to members of Omani society.
The Sultanate of Oman, through its National Committee which includes representatives of various bodies from the relevant ministries, the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the National Human Rights Committee, works to combat human trafficking, and to develop national action plans that include organizing awareness and training programs that enhance the capabilities of law enforcement workers, as well as contributing to the implementation of many of care and rehabilitation programmes. It also follows up on everything related to this matter, whether in Oman or outside, in terms of human trafficking methods, and imposes penalties on violators in accordance with the Anti-Human Trafficking Law of 2008.
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