How an Abu Dhabi shelter helped a 20-year-old human trafficking victim to recover
Young mother of one was lured into the UAE with a fake maid’s job
Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Centre for Shelter and Humanitarian Care, Ewaa, has succeeded in helping a victim of human trafficking, providing her with legal support, and rehabilitating her psychologically, socially and professionally, after she was deceived with a fake job opportunity in the UAE.
According to the centre, the victim, 20, is the mother of a young girl, and was searching for a job outside her home country when she was lured by a human trafficking gang that promised her with a fake opportunity as a maid.
The centre, which managed to rescue the woman, kept her in its shelter and provided her legal support and psychological and social rehabilitation, in addition to vocational rehabilitation. However, the traumatised woman who experienced negative emotions would cry and sleep most of the time, and remained confined to her room for a long time, thinking that she would be unjustly punished with imprisonment.
Continuous attempts made by the shelter’s supervisors and specialists enabled the victim to gradually open up to the available support and engage in social activities. She learned colouring and yoga and acquired new hobbies that helped her release her negative energies and express her feelings in a healthy way. She also forged friendships with other survivors who assured her that she was in a safe place.
Female employees at the shelter reported that survivors usually suffer from mistrust and fear at first as a result of their harsh experiences, but psychological and social rehabilitation services help them deal with negative feelings and thoughts.
The centre stated that some victims take a number of months to respond, while other cases take only a few days depending on their circumstances.
The centre provides legal support and vocational rehabilitation, teaching skills such as cooking, handicrafts, sewing, etc, and providing financial support to help survivors start new projects after returning to their homelands. This enables them to take up jobs and with suitable sources of income to avoid falling into the trap of human trafficking again.
Ewaa said, “As we enter the new year, Ewaa reflects on the steps taken by the centre to help survivors of victims of human trafficking and violence against them and to raise their level of awareness after receiving all types of medical, psychological and humanitarian assistance they need. In 2024, the center’s commitment will remain to support more survivors, increase awareness and expand the impact Initiatives.”
How to report a suspicious case
Abu Dhabi Police and Ewaa have partnered to enhance services for victims of all kinds of violence. In 2023, Abu Dhabi Police and Abu Dhabi Centre for Shelter and Humanitarian Care – Ewaa, signed an agreement to enhance services for victims of all kinds of violence.
The agreement, signed by Major General Mohammed Suhail Al Rashidi of Abu Dhabi Police and Sarah AbdulAziz Shohail from Abu Dhabi Centre for Shelter and Humanitarian Care – Ewaa, aims to enable coordination on reports and cases of violence and human trafficking, and set measures and mechanisms for Ewaa to receive case files from Abu Dhabi Police.
The partnership also facilitates the organisation of conferences, seminars, workshops and training courses on topics related to human rights, and enables exchange of legislation, research and legal studies related to the same subject.
The Abu Dhabi Centre for Sheltering and Humanitarian Care - Ewaa urges the public to report any suspicious human trafficking activities by calling 800-SAVE (800-7283).