Saudi Arabia upgraded in US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons report

Saudi Arabia upgraded in US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons report

RIYADH: The US State Department has upgraded Saudi Arabia from a ranking of "Tier 2 Watch List" to "Tier 2" in its annual Trafficking in Persons Report, which was released on Thursday, in recognition of the Kingdom's efforts to combat human trafficking. This is the second year in succession that the Kingdom has improved its ranking in the annual report. This year's report listed improvements in the Kingdom's inter-agency coordination, data-collection and data-sharing, and its "robust" capacity-building measures among this year's achievements. The Kingdom's anti-trafficking response is coordinated by the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT), a multi-entity body chaired by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) that brings together key ministries and authorities in the fight against trafficking. The NCCHT is supported through partnerships with international organizations, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Awwad Alawwad, NCCHT chairman and president of the HRC, said: "We are honored by the recognition we have received for our efforts to combat trafficking over the past two years. Under Vision 2030, the Kingdom is committed to improving the quality of life not just for some, but for all. Today's achievement is a testament to