The Human Rights Commission (HRC) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in the GCC signed the second phase of an agreement to implement activities and programs to support and strengthen national capabilities in preventing and punishing trafficking in persons. This is within the framework of the memorandum of understanding for technical cooperation that brings the two sides together in combating human trafficking crimes. In its second phase, the agreement aims to support and strengthen national capacities to effectively prevent and punish trafficking in persons per international standards and best practices. This agreement also contributes to achieving a sustainable impact by meeting the objectives of the National Action Plan of the Committee for Combating Trafficking in Persons. HRC President Dr. Hala Bint Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri said the crimes of human trafficking are one of the most heinous crimes that violate human rights and deprive individuals of freedom and dignity. She stressed that the Kingdom, through the regulations and the international agreements and protocols it has enacted and joined, and the memorandums of cooperation signed with the relevant international organizations and institutions, has worked to build a legal and institutional framework that guarantees the protection of all persons from these crimes without discrimination and to assist the victims. She added that the renewal of the agreement comes within the framework of the Kingdom"s continued efforts to follow up on projects and initiatives related to combating and preventing these crimes, implementing activities and training programs, and developing national capabilities concerned with countering them. Judge Hatem Ali, the regional representative of the UN Office, welcomed the partnership with the Committee for Combating Crimes of Trafficking in Persons within the framework of strengthening national efforts to confront these crimes, not only at the national level but also at the regional and international levels. He stressed that the signing of the second phase aims to develop this effective partnership in combating and preventing these crimes nationally, regionally and internationally per the international standards and UN regulations. — SPA