United Nations: Kuwait has made tangible progress in the fight against human trafficking - Sarmad

(KUNA) – The head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) mission in Kuwait, Mazen Abu Al-Hassan, affirmed on Thursday that Kuwait has made tangible progress in developing its anti-trafficking system, reflecting a gradual shift toward a more comprehensive and coordinated response to this crime.

In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on the occasion of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, observed annually on July 30, Abu Al-Hassan said that the organization views the level of cooperation with relevant authorities in Kuwait as positive and constructive, marked by continuous development driven by a shared understanding of the importance of combating human trafficking and protecting victims.

He added that the organization views positively several steps taken by Kuwait in recent years to strengthen efforts against human trafficking and protect victims, foremost among them the implementation of Law No. 91 of 2013 on combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling, the enactment of Law No. 114 of 2024 on the residence of foreigners, and the adoption of the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling for the period 2025–2028.

He noted that these steps also included developing the national referral mechanism, enhancing the capacities of competent authorities, expanding protection and support services for victims, implementing training programs, launching multilingual awareness campaigns, opening an anti-trafficking office at Kuwait International Airport, and activating a hotline for reporting trafficking cases, thereby strengthening prevention efforts, early detection of cases, and institutional response.

He clarified that the organization has supported national efforts through collaboration with various partners to enhance national and international coordination and raise awareness about the risks of human trafficking and prevention measures. He pointed out that it has participated in training diplomats on combating human trafficking, alongside annual training sessions conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, represented by the General Directorate of Training, and in joint work with the Public Authority for Manpower to support related efforts aimed at protecting labor and enhancing prevention of exploitation.