They said that setting up such a committee would greatly contribute to finding appropriate measures and regulations on protecting individuals as well as labourers from falling victim to the crime of human trading.
The national panel will act as a boost to the federal law on combating trafficking in persons enforced in the country, the officials observed. The cabinet, under the chairmanship of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has recently taken a decision to set up a national anti-human trafficking committee.
The new committee shall be chaired by UAE Federal Minister of State for FNC Affairs. Other official representatives from the federal ministries of interior, foreign affairs, labour, health and social affairs as well as from the State Security Authority and the UAE Red Crescent Society (RCS).
Minister of Justice, Mohammed bin Nakhira Al Dhaheri, said that the federal cabinet resolution on setting up the committee is yet another boost to the federal law No 51 for 2006 on combating trafficking in persons.
“The committee will have a dual mandate, the first is to coordinate between federal ministries and departments concerned to eliminate crimes related to trafficking in persons on the UAE land whether prostitution, abuse, mistreatment, coercive exploitation and abuse of work force, or illegal organs transplantation, “ he said.
According to him, the second mandate calls for strict enforcement of the law and its provisions in full.
“The UAE has put in place all legislations and measures to make sure the country is free of crimes related to human trafficking and ensure protection of those living on its land,” he stressed. The minister clarified that trafficking in persons includes recruitment, transportation, transfer or harbouring of persons by means of threat or use of force with or without the victim’s consent or knowledge, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of position and taking advantage of the vulnerability of the persons. Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qutami, Minister of Health, viewed the initiative as an indication for the government’s serious role in preserving basic human rights.
“Establishing a national panel to oversee that people in the country enjoy all their human rights, including rights to have access to quality health services, is an indication to the government role to protect rights of individuals in this country,” said Qutami. He added that the committee will help decision-makers to come up with appropriate measures and regulations to protect the human rights of people.
Dr Mohammed Mahmoud Al Kamali, Director-General of the Judicial Institute, said the committee would concentrate its efforts on protection of workers from exploitation. Citing international statistics, Al Kamali said about 12.3 million workers were being subject to various types of abuse and exploitation around the world.
The UAE efforts, he affirmed would prevent human trafficking gangs in achieving their goals in the UAE. “The Committee will chalk out a comprehensive strategy to prevent occurrence of such crimes in the UAE,” he said..
Mohammed Al Za’abi, Director of International Relations Department at the Ministry of Labour (MoL), said: “Forming a national committee on curbing the crime of human trafficking is a positive step that confirms UAE has always been respecting human rights. It furthermore assures that the government seeks to protect everyone that live and work in this country.”
The Experts Committee at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) hailed the UAE efforts in protecting the labourers’ rights and resolving workers’ disputes that are common to erupt between employees and employers, observed Al Za’abi.
“The UAE has undertaken many steps to ensure safety of workers and to preserve their legal rights.
“The new committee indicates the country’s keenness to protect labourers rights,” Al Za’abi added.
