Dubai: The number of human trafficking cases in the UAE has dropped to 15 cases in 2014 compared with 19 in 2013, a member of the Federal National Council said.
“Of the 15 cases, six have been given verdicts and nine are still ongoing,” Sultan Bin Juwaid, Member of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, said while speaking at a forum held in Dubai on Monday. He said that human trafficking is an age-old crime, and is the third most profitable after drugs and arms dealing.
The talk was organised by the Federal National Council’s Human Rights Committee to shed light on the extensive efforts the country continues to put into dealing with the issue.
Mohammad Ahmad Al Murr, FNC Speaker, who gave the opening speech, highlighted how the UAE, from its inception in 1971, protected human rights in its constitution.
“This talk reflects the concern of the UAE and all its government institutions, including its Federal National Council, for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and its commitment to combat human trafficking in all its forms, as a strategic choice, stemming from the teachings of our Islamic religion.”
Al Murr added, “Respecting human rights is the basis of any progress…the UAE’s vision for 2021 includes an interactive system of policies and national strategies to develop human rights.”
Zayed Saeed Al Shamsi, Chairman of the Emirates Association for Lawyers and Legal Consultants, said that Islam promotes and protects human rights and that human rights are also part of the UAE’s culture. This, he said, is reflected in the UAE’s constitution and human rights laws.
In response to a question from the audience about human rights organisations attacking the UAE’s human rights practices, Al Shamsi said that there are real human rights organisations, and others who have hidden political agendas that look for any small mistakes and blow them out of proportion to ruin the country’s image.
“Sometimes the problems are even misrepresented, for instance there were claims that workers who want to work in the UAE pay some brokers in their home country large sums of money to work in the UAE. The UAE was blamed for it, when it has nothing to do with the UAE,” Al Shamsi said.
