PH Embassy, Saudi Human Rights Commission Hold Talk on Combating Human Trafficking

From left: Jeanne April Marie Bruneau, Paolo Zurita, Fidel Macauyag, Von Ryan Ferrera, Rommel Romato, Ambassador Adnan Alonto, Sarah Al-Tamimi, Reem Al Omar, Saad Al Mazroa and Abdelmajid Al Ruddayan (Riyadh PE photo)

RIYADH, 07 December 2021 – The Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia hosted a meeting with the Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) and Vice Chair of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT) Deputy President Sarah Al-Tamimi at the Bahay Kalinga in Riyadh on 23 November 2021.  Representatives from the Anti-Trafficking Unit of the HRC, the Department of International Cooperation of the NCCHT, and the International Organization for Migration were also present.

The Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office provided the HRC and NCCHT with an overview of Post’s shelter management and attendant expenses in supporting the shelter wards.  They also discussed cooperation on combating human trafficking. 

At the end of the meeting, Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Adnan Alonto and Labor Attaché Fidel Macauyag gave the guests a brief tour of the shelter’s facilities.

Saudi HRC Deputy President Al-Tamimi acknowledged that the Philippines is known to have a very good response to ATN and Trafficking-in-Persons cases.  She expressed appreciation for the meeting and shared their organization’s goal to establish their own shelter catering to victims of human trafficking.  She also stated that they wish to further collaborate with the Philippine Embassy to gather best practices, among others. 

The Philippine government currently maintains eight shelters across Saudi Arabia with around 1,050 wards.  Most of them are awaiting final resolution of their concerns and cases and their eventual repatriation to the Philippines. END

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