Symposium on Human Trafficking Discussed by Studies & Research Centre and Children's Culture Department

The Studies and Research Centre, in collaboration with the Children’s Culture Department at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, along with officials from the Ministry of Interior, held a symposium to address the growing threat of human trafficking on local, regional, and international levels. 

The event, titled “Prevention and Combating Human Trafficking,” took place at the ministry’s headquarters and featured discussions led by key officials, including Lieutenant Colonel Haider Naeem, head of the central committee in the Department of Combating Human Trafficking and Organ Selling, and Major Fatima Nasser, head of the Combating Division at the Ministry of Interior. Dr. Ismail Suleiman Hassan, Director General of the Children’s Culture Department and Director of the Studies and Research Centre, was also in attendance.

Lieutenant Colonel Haider Naeem emphasised the symposium’s significance in addressing the widespread issue of human trafficking both within and beyond Iraq’s borders. He highlighted the severe impact of this crime on civil peace and community security and underscored the urgent need to dismantle criminal networks involved in the trafficking and sale of human organs.

Naeem also called for intensified efforts to combat prostitution, forced labor, unpaid labor, and illegal migrant smuggling, advocating for stronger deterrence measures and enhanced national capacities to protect human rights. He further stressed the importance of implementing international agreements within a robust legal and institutional framework.

In her presentation, Major Fatima Nasser focused on how organ trafficking networks target their victims, noting that children, young girls, and individuals unaware of the dangers are particularly vulnerable, often being lured through social media and recruitment agencies.

Dr. Ismail Suleiman Hassan, during his intervention, remarked on the shared vision between the Ministries of Culture and Interior. He pointed to low living standards and a lack of awareness as primary contributors to the human trafficking crisis, highlighting the need for specialised awareness campaigns to address the issue effectively.

Source: Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities