UAE welcomes Switzerland joining Virtual Global Taskforce

Abu Dhabi: The UAE, represented by the Higher Committee for Child Protection at the Ministry of Interior, has welcomed Switzerland as a new member of the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT), the global alliance against online child abuse.

A delegation from the UAE Ministry of Interior expressed its appreciation to Switzerland in a meeting recently held in Brussels.

Maj Gen Nasser Lakhrebani Al Nuaimi, Secretary-General of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Higher Committee for Child Protection at the Ministry of Interior and the UAE representative at the Virtual Global taskforce (VGT), pointed out that Switzerland is the newest member.

VGT is an international alliance of law enforcement and private agencies dedicated to combating online child sexual abuse and other forms of transnational child sexual exploitation. He said that the official signing-in ceremony was held in Brussels on Tuesday and was attended by both the US and Swiss ambassadors to the European Union.

Maj Gen Al Nuaimi reiterated the keenness of the UAE to carry out the instructions of Lt Gen Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and his vision to make the UAE a role model in child protection. He noted that the UAE joined the VGT in 2010 and since then has endeavoured to fulfil its goals and the leaders’ vision.

This is achieved through regulations, monitoring the internet and people who may pose a threat to children, as well as raising the community’s awareness about ways to prevent sexual and physical abuse of children. Child abuse cases are also investigated efficiently.

Lt Col Faisal Mohammad Al Shimmari, Director of the Ministry of Interior’s Child Protection Centre, highlighted the ministry’s efforts to guarantee the protection of children by implementing laws which are considered a regional role model. These laws incriminate the possession and distribution of “explicit” electronic files and digital crimes. The system also ensures monitoring potential offenders who may distribute explicit material. He also reiterated the ministry’s keenness to follow the best police practices and training programmes to check online child abuse.

The ministry is carrying out media campaigns, academic programmes and specialised training programmes to raise awareness on cybercrimes, especially online child abuse. He also highlighted the need to promote family supervision of children against the misuse of the internet, and to make them aware of the risks they might face online.

VGT Chair Ian Quinn, head of the Cyber Crimes Centre for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), formally welcomed Switzerland. The VGT now consists of 13 international law enforcement agencies and 12 private sector partners.

As a member of the Global Alliance against online child abuse, Switzerland set itself the goal of joining the VGT to share the responsibility of fighting online child abuse with the international community, said Thomas Walther, commissioner of the Swiss Cybercrime Coordination Unit Switzerland (CYCO), who will represent Switzerland on the VGT board of management.