Qatar is set to pass a new anti-human trafficking law that outlines the rights of women, children and people with special needs. 

Husbands forcing their wives into prostitution, government officials who are complicit in human trafficking cases and those who employ the victims of human trafficking can be charged under the new law. 

According to the Peninsula:

Although there is no mention of maids in the draft, lawyers said the proposed law, once implemented, would also apply to those who mistreat maids, sexually harass them or force them to work for long hours without paying them.

The punishment for these crimes can be imprisonment of up to 15 years and fines up to QR300,000.

The draft law goes one step further by stating that even people who simply have information about incidents of human trafficking and fail to tell the authorities can to be put on trial and if found guilty, jailed for up to three years and/or fined up to QR150,000.

The law also outlines Qatar’s responsibilities toward the victims of human trafficking and the recourse available to them.