The Kingdom of Bahrain will host the seventh edition of Government Forum for Combatting Trafficking in Persons (GFCTIP) in the Middle East, from October 12 to 14, 2026.
Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the International Affairs Committee for Human Rights, will participate in the forum.
The forum will be held under the theme "Enhancing the Sustainability of Efforts through Innovation and Partnerships". The theme reflects Bahrain’s commitment to continuing to support regional and international efforts to combat human trafficking, strengthen their sustainability, and enhance their ability to keep pace with developments in crime and its evolving forms.
Nibras Mohamed Taleb, Chief Executive Officer of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons (NCCTIP), underscored that Bahrain and the countries of the region attach great importance to combating human trafficking.
Taleb said the forum’s continued role as an annual platform for evaluating efforts and exchanging expertise reflected the growing focus on combating this transnational crime and the progress made in addressing it.
Taleb added that this year's edition of the forum features unprecedented private-sector participation, reflecting the success of national and regional efforts to address this transnational crime and foster an established an institutional and societal culture around its prevention.
He said the themes and sessions aim to address regional circumstances and emerging trends in human trafficking, to develop innovative innovative approaches to combating the crime and introducing targeted initiatives to sustain efforts over the long term and address evolving challenges.
The forum is accompanied by the "Insan" (human) Exhibition, showcasing the work of a group of artists and highlighting the role of companies and the arts in supporting awareness-raising efforts to combat human trafficking.
Participants in the forum include heads of national committees to combat human trafficking from the GCC countries, as well as representatives from the Republic of Egypt and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, alongside participants of the United States and the United Kingdom.
The United Nations (UN) will also be represented through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations office and Drugs Crime (UNODC) in the GCC countries.
The forum will feature a video address by Theresa May, former UK Prime Minister and Chair of the Global Commission on Human Trafficking, on "Technology and Innovation in Combatting Trafficking in Persons: Contemporary Challenges and Trends".
The forum will feature a series of panel discussions covering key aspects of combating human trafficking. The first two sessions are "Challenges and Practical Solutions in Combating Human Trafficking", while the second will be on "The Power of the Word: The Role of Communication and Media in Combatting Trafficking in Persons".
The third session will explore "Bahraini experience in combatting trafficking in persons: a sustainable commitment and effective national initiatives", followed by a fourth session on "Child Protection".
Additional discussions will address "Exchanging Best Practices through the Use of Innovation and Artificial Intelligence (Technical Procedures and Initiatives)" and "Protecting Domestic Workers – Challenges and Implementation Solutions". The programme will also include presentations highlighting Bahrain’s experience and the role of the private sector in combating human trafficking.
The forum and accompanying exhibition are held with the support and sponsorship of private sector partners.