National Institution for Human Rights – Kingdom of Bahrain practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs. In any event, the crime elements are deemed to exist even with the victim’s consent. 8. Within the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain efforts to combat and prevent the crime of trafficking in persons, Article 8 of Law No. 1 of 2008 on Combating Human Trafficking provides for setting up the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Persons. This Committee is concerned with the development of programs about preventing and combating trafficking in persons, protecting victims of this crime; encouraging and supporting preparing research, information, mass media campaigns and social and economic initiatives to prevent and combat trafficking in persons; coordinating with various State agencies regarding the information about this crime; participating with the competent authorities in the preparation of the reports that will be submitted to the relevant international bodies on the measures that have been taken in this regard; and following up the competent government agencies’ implementation of the recommendations and guidance set out in the relevant conventions and protocols to which the Kingdom is a party. 9. Moreover, Article 7 of the aforementioned Law provides for the establishment of a committee called “The Committee to assess the status of foreign victims of trafficking in persons”. This Committee is granted the competence to remove any obstacles to the employment of the foreign victim if he is need for work, as well as coordinating with the Ministry of Interior to return the victim to his native country, or to his place of residence in any other country when so requested. The Committee may recommend, if necessary, that the victim remains in the Kingdom and correcting his legal conditions to enable him to work. The Committee may also look at all reports related to the victim, and may hear the statement of the victim and that of his legal representative. 10. In the context of providing the necessary protection for victims of trafficking in persons, through the provision of shelters for victims of this crime, “Dar Al-Aman” was established in 2006 to accommodate one hundred and twenty six cases of women with their children who were exposed to violence and abuse, including victims of trafficking in persons. The necessary care and rehabilitation services are provided to rebuild their personalities and to ensure their proper integration and adjustment. In addition, Dar Al-Karama Social Care for accommodating beggars and vagrants was established in 2007. Child Protection Center was established in 2007, which is concerned with protection of child victims of trafficking in persons, as well as with cases of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse and severe neglect. 11. In order to complement the efforts in institutional building, a special division at the Ministry of Interior concerned with fighting trafficking in persons was established. This unit reports to the General Directorate of Investigations and Criminal Evidence, and plays an active role in the search, investigation and arrest of the perpetrators of this crime, bringing them to investigation, and opening a hot line to receive communications and complaints related to the crime of trafficking in persons. In addition, it has a role in raising the community awareness about this crime through various media outlets. 12. With regard to the provisions of Law No. 1 of 2008 on Combating Trafficking in Persons, NIHR believes that the broad lines of this Law is in line with the relevant international instruments, through the criminalization of all forms of trafficking in persons. It is not limited to disguised slavery, but extends to sexual exploitation, child labor, and trafficking in persons, with severe punishment imposed in the cases that require aggravated punishment. Further, it expands the indictment to include legal 88