RIYADH — The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT), in cooperation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) concluded a three-week virtual training program on combating trafficking-in-persons crimes. The virtual training brought together some 465 men and women from relevant ministries, authorities, and civil society organizations representing all 13 regions of the country. According to Muhanad Al Duwaikat, the UNODC resident expert who conducted the virtual training, "The preparations and extensive training undertaken by Saudi Arabia are evidence of the Kingdom's categorical rejection of this heinous crime. "Furthermore, the incorporation of best practices, adherence to international standards, and commitment to high levels of cooperation and professionalism show the Kingdom's resolve to combating this crime fully." The training familiarized participants with the fundamental tenets of victim-focused anti-trafficking theory, while also highlighting how anti-trafficking efforts play out in real time. More specifically, the course focused on the implementation of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), a collaborative framework for the coordination of roles and responsibilities of all relevant ministries and authorities in trafficking cases. Additional training sessions specifically on data management techniques will commence after Ramadan. According to Sarah Al Tamimi, vice-chair of the NCCHT, "These invaluable trainings allow Saudi officials from every region and at every level to benefit from the expertise of some of the world's foremost authorities on combatting trafficking. "There is no doubt that the Kingdom has made anti-trafficking a priority among priorities. Our morals, our values, and our consciences compel us to action."
