The National Committee for Combating Human Trafficking (NCCHT) met on Wed. 14 Oct. 2009 chaired by His Excellency Lt General Malik bin Sulaiman Al-Ma’mary, Inspector General of Police and Customs, Chairman of the Committee. The NCCHT approved the National Plan for Combating Human Trafficking, and launched its website.

The website contains a profile on the NCCHT, relevant laws and rules including the Anti-trafficking Law, Oman Labour Law, and the Foreigners’ Residence Law, and the National Anti-trafficking Plan. It contains also mechanisms for reporting any case or suspected case of human trafficking, and news on human trafficking.

Upon the issuance of the Anti-trafficking Law by Royal Decree No 126/2008, Oman became one of the countries which have human trafficking legislation. The Law is consistent with the international anti-trafficking standards, and with the customs, traditions and religious believes of Oman.

The NCCHT is the body in which efforts of all organizations concerned are used collectively to eliminate or curb this crime.

The authorities in Oman could seize last year the first ever human trafficking crime in Oman. Court rulings were already pronounced sentencing the convicts to imprisonment. This was an evidence that Oman is determined to combat this anti- human crime.

Although human trafficking crime in Oman is very limited, the NCCHT set up an annual awareness plan to enlighten the community about the crime, and how to fight it.

An international gang of traffickers in persons carried out criminal business in Oman then moved to Bahrain. Members of the gang exploited 13 girls of different Arabian nationalities using Oman as transit where the girls stay for short periods then return to Bahrain with new visas and stay there for one or tow months practicing indecent acts.

The ring comprised 13 members of Omani and Syrian nationalities. They helped the girls to enter Oman as their wives, with fake marriages made on paper only between them and the girls.

Members of the gang fell into the hands of Royal Oman Police, who after necessary investigations sent the case to the competent court. Eleven traffickers were sentenced to 7-year imprisonment each, and two were acquitted for their cooperation with the police and help in disclosing the case.

The girls were not sentenced. The authorities concerned provided the necessary support including residence, medical care then deported to their original countries at the government expense.

The trial of the case and the sentences were an evidence of the determination of the Sultanate to combat trafficking in persons all forms after the enactment of the Anti-trafficking Law by Royal Decree No. 128/2008 dated 23 Nov. 2008.