Human trafficking cases drop sharply

The UAE’s official campaign against human trafficking has entered its sixth year with the number of reported cases declining sharply.

Dr Anwar Gargash addressing a press conference. — Wam

Releasing the ‘Combating Human Trafficking in the UAE - Annual Report 2011-2012’ at a press conference on Tuesday, Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, who is also the Chairman of National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, said the results of the last five years suggest that the government has made significant and rapid progress.

“The process began with the enactment of Federal Law 51 in 2006 and the establishment of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT) in 2007. Despite this constructive and 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 only thwart the prevailing means of exploitation, but also improve the detection and prosecution tools of this crime in future.”

The 31-page comprehensive report also features legislation to curb human trafficking, its enforcement, a mechanism to support the victims and bilateral agreements.

The minister said a measure of the UAE’s success in tackling this crime was evident in the number of registered cases. While only 10 cases were recorded in 2007, the number increased to 58 in 2010 and declined to 37 in 2011.

“A careful reading of the numbers shows that the effectiveness of the NCCHT was first evident in the increasing awareness of human trafficking, which led to a corresponding increase in the number of cases between 2006 and 2010. It now appears that the NCCHT’s effectiveness is finally beginning to yield the intended results,” he added.

Overall, the numbers indicate both growing awareness about human trafficking among the public and intensifying counter-measures adopted by the government. “More importantly, the government agencies are becoming increasingly successful in disrupting the activities of several organised crime syndicates involved in human trafficking.”

A number of shelters have been established for human trafficking victims across the country with support of other government organisations and NGOs.

Referring to the punishments, Dr Gargash said: “Under the law, a life imprisonment is applicable if the crime is committed through deceit, if it involves the use of force or threat of murder or bodily harm, or if it involves physical or psychological torture. Furthermore, the 16-article law prescribes stiff penalties for traffickers ranging – from one-year to life imprisonment and fines of Dh100,000 to Dh1 million.”

In 2011, the police departments registered a total of 44 cases of human trafficking but the prosecution deemed only 37 cases as falling under the purview of Federal Law 51. “These cases involved 51 victims and led to the arrest of 111 traffickers.”

Nineteen people were convicted, which is high by any international standards. These convictions involved stiff penalties ranging from one-year to life imprisonment.

About the law-enforcement agencies’ involvement, Dr Gargash said: “The Ministry of Interior placed great importance on organisational units concerned with protecting and promoting human rights, particularly combating human trafficking and issues related to women and children. The ministry approved many mechanisms and procedures to ensure a victim-centred approach.”

In 2011, the Ministry of Labour settled disputes of about 30,000 workers. “It liquidated the bank guarantees of nearly 2,000 companies to settle disputes, which involved an amount of about Dh55 million.” — nissar@khaleejtimes.com