Bahrain register 20 human trafficking cases this year; ‘role model’ in unrelenting fight against modern slavery

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain continues to make massive leaps regionally and globally in the fight against human trafficking with 20 related cases registered this year alone in the kingdom, according to Trafficking in Persons Chief Prosecutor Dr Ali Al Shewikh.

The Public Prosecution referred eight cases to the High Criminal Court which issued its ruling in three cases convicting the suspects and handing them imprisonment sentences ranging from three to ten years.

The court also ruled the convicts to pay fines and be deported after serving their sentences and victims were repatriated.

Dr Al Shewikh pointed out that the court is still processing five cases while the Public Prosecution, after investigation, ended by excluding the suspicion of crime in eight cases and referred two to the court. He added that investigation is still underway in four cases.

The government has also cracked down on sex trafficking in recent years. Those convicted of it face between three and 15 years in prison, fines of up to BD10,000 and also bear the cost of repatriating their victims. Article 325 of Bahrain’s penal code recommends sentences of between two and seven years for forced prostitution and three to 10 years if the victim is a minor.

Bahrain has been actively convening, organising and funding regional forums on trafficking that bring together high-level delegations from across the Middle East to share best practices and commit to specific anti-trafficking initiatives germane to the region.

Last week, the Kingdom announced the establishment of a new specialised Prosecution Unit to be housed within the Public Prosecution as part of its unwavering efforts to fight the scourge.

With this decision, Bahrain has become the first Arab country that sets up a specialised prosecution in human trafficking cases. The decision backs the national efforts in this respect and boosts the Kingdom’s advanced international standing in combating this type of crimes. The announcement follows decision 34/ 2020 to set up a Prosecution of Trafficking in Persons dedicated to investigating the crimes stipulated in Law 1/ 2008 regarding combating trafficking in persons or related to it in any other law.
This includes forced labour, withholding wages and crimes committed under the laws of the Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), the regulation of tourism, beggary and homelessness, and other crimes affecting human rights and freedom in which exploitation may arise in the form of trafficking in persons.

Under the decision, members of the newly-established prosecution will follow the procedures outlined in the anti-trafficking in persons law related to the victim’s legal rights, care and protection in cooperation and coordination with the relevant authorities, initiate and follow up cases at courts of various degrees, and review judgments issued therein. The decision also assigns prosecutors to visit and report on shelters and places of residence for victims, research and study, as well as report on what investigations reveal about new methods of committing crimes.

They also update the National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Persons for consideration upon initiating control programs.

The decision instructs members of the Prosecution Unit to prepare statistics and pro- vide the relevant national and international bodies with the required data and information within the limits permitted by law.

It also establishes an electronic prosecution record system that includes the decisions related to the care and protection of victims and their execution, as well as those related to seizures, their disposal and status according to the final orders and rulings.

In 2015, Bahrain opened an internationally renowned shelter for vulnerable workers and trafficking victims – the Expat Protection Centre at the LMRA.

Expatriate workers receive protection and assistance from the government to resolve outstanding issues.