Authorities committed to fighting human trafficking

The man charged with tackling human trafficking in the UAE has said the authorites will not let up in their fight against slavery – despite the number of cases falling last year.

Dr Anwar Gargash, Chairman of the UAE National Committee to Combat Trafficking (NCCHT), released the annual Combating Human Trafficking in the UAE report on Tuesday, according to a report by national UAE news agency WAM.

Wit showed that the number of reported cases dropped to 37 in 2011 from 58 in 2010. He said: “Despite this encouraging outcome, the UAE is aware that multiple and interlinked challenges associated with such criminal behaviour requires sustained alert.

“In light of this realisation, the government is determined to not just thwart the prevailing means of exploitation, but also improve in future the detection and prosecution tools of this crime.”

Among the initiatives brought in last year was approval of the Federal Cabinet of a draft law on domestic workers and the launch of a new online system by the UAE Ministry of Labour to streamline verification of labour contracts.

Gargash said: “New shelters for women and children victims of human trafficking were opened in emirates of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah under the umbrella of the UAE Red Crescent Authority.

NCCHT has also launched a website, www.nccht.gov.ae, to raise awareness about human trafficking.

“The government is committed to taking the lead in acknowledging the existence of human trafficking as an issue that afflicts the UAE society, as it does in many other parts of the world. Combating this crime is a goal the UAE shares with all nations,” Gargash said.

“Despite achieving a number of its objectives in a short span, the government remains committed to improving its efforts to keep pace with international best practices in tackling human trafficking from a solid ground of our values and beliefs.”