UAE's anti-trafficking fight goes on

Abu Dhabi: The UAE will continue to take a lead in anti-human trafficking measures in the region and internationally, acknowledging the existence of the illegal trade as a problem that afflicts our society and many others around the world, the head of the UAE's efforts to eradicate the illegal activity said yesterday.

"The fight against human trafficking is our fight, and a goal we share with all responsible nations. We have achieved rapid and significant progress in a short span of time, but we will continue to remain committed to improving our efforts to keep pace with international best practices in tackling this crime," said Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs.

Gargash, also chairman of the UAE National Committee to Combat Trafficking, said the government is committed to checking the exploitative and coercive abuse of any human life in the country and is making great strides to check this by pursuing its four-pillar action plan: legislation, enforcement, victim support and bilateral agreements and international cooperation.

Gargash stressed that the UAE is also mindful of the challenges that remain.

"Our commitment to improve the detection and prosecution of trafficking offences is stronger than ever," said Gargash, as he commissioned the annual human trafficking report.

In 2006 the government passed a law to combat human trafficking, imposing harsh penalties such as life imprisonment for those convicted.

Gargash said 43 cases of human trafficking were registered last year, compared with 20 in 2008, and that there had been an increase in the number of prosecutions and severity of punishments, with offenders receiving up to life sentences. He stressed the government must remain vigilant and never let down its guard.

"The professional criminals who engage in the trafficking of human beings exploit any weaknesses that they can find in official safeguards."

During the past year, the UAE expanded the size and scope of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking by including public prosecutors, law enforcement officers, as well as representatives of human rights association and victim shelters as its members.

The UAE also opened a new shelter for victims in Abu Dhabi; ratified the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, in line with its international commitment.

The government, Gargash said, conducted regular workshops and training sessions to make law enforcement officials aware of new trafficking methods and adapt their response accordingly; and launched a website to serve both as an official source of information and a forum for interaction between the public and law enforcement agencies.

Gargash said these and other efforts were acknowledged by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council when the Working Group Report on the UAE's Universal Periodic Review was unanimously adopted in March 2009.

"In another step forward, the UAE fulfilled its commitment made in Geneva to invite Special Rapporteurs from the United Nations to examine human rights issues."

Strategies

Gargash announced a number of initiatives as part of the UAE's efforts to stamp out the illegal trade proactively. These include: launching a media campaign to enhance public awareness about human trafficking at airports and embassies abroad; studying the possibilities of amending Federal Law 51 to make it more effective and more closely aligned with the Palermo Protocol; looking at opening two more shelters for victims in the northern emirates; and expanding cooperation with other countries and international agencies to deliver more effective results locally and abroad.