Manama, Oct. 26 (BNA): The second phase of the agreement to assist the Regional Training Center in Combating Trafficking in Persons (2025–2028) was signed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA).
LMRA, IOM sign second-phase agreement to support regional training centre to combat trafficking in persons
Aishath Ihma Shareef, Head of IOM Mission in Bahrain, and Nibras Talib, LMRA Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons, signed the agreement.
The agreement intends to deepen collaboration in accordance with international norms, develop national and regional capacities, and improve Bahrain’s efforts to prevent human trafficking.
Talib reaffirmed Bahrain’s resolve to advance its anti-trafficking initiatives, leveraging global knowledge and collaborations, especially with IOM, to strengthen Bahrain’s standing as a preeminent regional leader in victim protection and capacity-building via the Regional Training Center.
He pointed out that by introducing new, specialized training programs and creating useful resources to combat different types of human trafficking, the second phase builds on the first’s achievements.
Expanding capacity-building programs, modifying training programs for a broader spectrum of beneficiaries, creating resources for frontline staff, creating e-learning modules, and holding awareness workshops are the main objectives of the next phase. Additionally, it seeks to educate employers in the private sector about trafficking prevention.
As part of the agreement, a professional diploma in fighting human trafficking will be designed, a framework for monitoring and evaluation will be established to evaluate performance and long-term effects, and high-level technical and social events will be held to foster regional and global cooperation.
Shareef, for her part, was proud of the collaboration with LMRA, emphasizing the accomplishments of the two organizations’ training programs, knowledge sharing, and growing collaboration in the development of national expertise and skills.
She continued by saying that the new phase demonstrates Bahrain and IOM’s combined commitment to keep advancing a culture that fights human trafficking, upholds the rights of all parties, and creates training programs for various industries.
Designing training programs, preparing certified trainers, standardizing operational procedures, and holding awareness workshops were the four main elements of the agreement’s first phase.
Targeting national cadres from 17 frontline entities in six primary sectors—health, aviation, criminal justice, inspection, media, and shelter—it produced 14 training modules in Arabic and English, certified 87 trainers through 444 training hours, and provided awareness training for almost 500 employees through 49 workshops.
