11\11\2019
In its efforts towards monitoring and pursuing practices indicative of crimes of human trafficking, the Human Rights Commission affirms that it has taken a number of measures to prosecute offending advertisements in newspapers, digital media and social media platforms made by unauthorized individuals or entities, promoting the sale, rental and auction of the services of female and male workers. As a result of cooperation and coordination between a number of security, supervisory and social authorities, efforts are being made towards conducting transparent investigations, meeting with the affected workers, implementing the standards of human trafficking indicators, and referring individual or institutional offenders to the judicial authorities so the necessary action may be taken against them.
The Commission stressed that trafficking in persons is a heinous practice and serious crime strongly combated by the Kingdom, as it violates human dignity and exposes persons to exploitation and slavery. Accordingly, the Kingdom remains committed to its extensive and transparent cooperation with international and regional organizations – as well as other countries fighting this crime – to bring its perpetrators to justice.
The Commission stated that indicators of the existence of victims of trafficking in persons are:
- Working in a specific environment they are unable to leave.
- Being subjected to violence and injuries as a result of assault.
- Receiving grossly inadequate wages, if any.
- Working for long hours without rest or days off.
- Not being in possession of their passports or identity documents, as those documents are being held by someone else.
- Having limited or no contact with their families.
- Paying fees or monetary amounts to be transported to the country of destination, and working for others without any compensation.
The Commission commended the measures taken by the government of Saudi Arabia towards combatting the atrocities of this crime, including the issuance of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law, wherein it defined the crime, its various forms and the penalties thereof, including punishing perpetrators with imprisonment for a period not exceeding 15 years, or a fine not exceeding SAR one million, or both.
