The Body Shop, in collaboration with Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking (QFCHT) and Hyatt Plaza Mall on Tuesday completed signing over 15,000 petitions against trafficking of children, to be handed over to the United Nations next month in New York. “This is a remarkable effort,” said Brett Lilley, Business Manager, Body Shop Qatar, speaking at an event held at the Hyatt Plaza, to conclude the petition campaign. The Body Shop has been campaigning internationally since 2007 to educate its customers about the third largest and fastest growing crime in the world. This global petition has received six million signatures, making this the largest petition ever championed by The Body Shop. Within the Middle East alone over 60,000 petitions have been signed in seven countries Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Cyprus. Once collected together, it will be presented as a global petition to the United Nations, urging the international body to drive for global legislative change. However, the Body Shop in Qatar would continue to create more awareness among its customers and the society in large. The Body Shop is working in collaboration with pioneering organisation ECPAT to combat commercial exploitation of children and young people, to provide direct care to victims, support public information campaigns and to work with governments to design and implement action to protect children. “In Qatar the Body Shop will continue working in collaboration with the Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking, to combat exploitation, and do public information campaigns and work to design and implement action to protect all people from this crime,” said Lilley. “We are not just campaigning for a change, but we are making the change,” he said. This petition activity has been replicated in some 50 countries around the world where The Body Shop has a presence. “Among these, 12 countries are working on legal change,” said Mark Senior, Franchise Manager, Body Shop, Middle East. “Let’s raise our voices to prevent our children form exploitation all over the world,” said Mariam Al Malki, General Manager, Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking. http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/162597-qatar-joins-global-drive-against-child-trafficking.html

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