Abu Dhabi: New ways of human trafficking continue to surface, according to an official at the Human Trafficking (HT) Conference yesterday at Rocco Forte Hotel.

"Two cases of child trafficking were recorded last year; one of them related to an Indonesian child. Both cases were for adoption by couples who cannot have children," Dr Saeed Al Ghufli, assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs and executive at the Anti- Trafficking National Committee, told Gulf News.

Whether the purpose is noble or otherwise, HT is illegal.

"Another form of HT that has started to appear in the UAE is forced labour. The Ministry of Labour is adding laws to protect labourers against abuse," said Al Ghufli

"HT court cases are on the rise from 10 cases in 2007 to 20 in 2008, 43 in 2009 and 42 in 2010," said Al Ghufli, attributing the increase to the authority's success in pursuing perpetrators.

UAE in the forefront

The UAE is among the Arab world's leading countries to implement federal laws for combating HT.

"HT crimes generally relate to border crossing, involving a country of origin, a transit country and the destination country. Therefore, comprehensive regional and international cooperation are key components in suppressing this type of crime, especially as HT criminals have a high level of competency in what they do," Brigadier Ahmad Nakhira Al Muharami, director of Human Rights Department and president of the HT department at the Ministry of Interior, told Gulf News.

"Poverty and lack of awareness are the main causes for these crimes to remain unreported. People are generally trapped due to their lack of awareness,"he said.

"We pay a special attention to the victims who are in a very vulnerable position and were subject to human rights violations. They deserve justice and need to be adequately compensated and rehabilitated," Elobaid Ahmad Elobaid, head of the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-west Asia and the Arab Region, said.

Information

A hotline has been put in place by the Anti-Trafficking National Committee: 8007283