'12 human trafficking victims repatriated upon their request'

AMMAN — Twelve guest workers who were reportedly victims of human trafficking were repatriated on Saturday upon their request, the Social Development Ministry said Saturday. The workers in question decided to leave Jordan after filing law-suits against those who violated their rights, said the ministry's spokesperson, Fawaz Ratrout, who did not reveal the nationality of the deported labourers.

"Voluntary deportation is an option the ministry is committed to granting to guest workers who are victims of human trafficking. This is a process that is applied world-wide," he told The Jordan Times. The workers were re-siding in a government- owned shelter that was established a year ago to protect human trafficking victims.

"The shelter received 46 cases in three months," Ratrout said. In previous remarks, Minister of Social Development Reem Abu Hassan said the government shelter will officially open early next year to house human trafficking victims in Jordan.

The minister said the shelter was named Karamah, “which means dignity in English to ensure the well-being of human trafficking victims in Jordan”. The number of human trafficking cases in the Kingdom increased from 92 in 2013 to 165 in 2014, Labour Minister Nidal Katamine said in March, expecting the number to gradually decrease due to procedures being taken to curb the phenomenon.

Abu Hassan said the shelter, which is housed in an old building be-longing to her ministry that was refurbished, has been divided into three sections — for men, women and children. The shelter can house up to 50 individuals and is located in the Jofeh suburb in east Amman, added Abu Hassan.

The Kingdom has ratified several international agreements related to human trafficking, such as the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially in Women and Children, which is part of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime. In addition, Jordan has adopted a national strategy to combat human trafficking, which focuses on prevention, protection, law enforcement and international cooperation to eradicate the phenomenon.