Addressing United Nations’ forum for the Global initiative to human trafficking in Vienna, Gargash said that "the donation is in line with respect to human dignity and care given by the UAE to the anti human trafficking efforts."
He added that the UAE is determined to fight the human trafficking crime and eradicate it in the country, reiterating the commitment of UAE, which was reflected by the donation of Sheikh Mohammed.
"The donation is in line with conviction of the UAE on setting up of a forum which includes countries, UN agencies, governmental agencies and non-governmental sector to work together under one umbrella to create unprecedented co-operation in the international community", Gargash remarked.
He underscored that such forums are exemplary to discuss the human trafficking related challenges, stating the UAE’s attitude towards this heinous crime and efforts exerted to root it out.
Gargash noted that the UAE "has shown its commitment to combat the human trafficking and eradicate it through endorsing the international human rights agreements, which focus on woman and child rights. It has also taken a number of political and legislative measures to combat the human trafficking".
He noted that like many world countries, the UAE suffers some forms of human trafficking, which the country has recognised as one of the despicable crimes, and hence, it is obliged to fight it through four-point strategy: punishable crime, enforcement of law, supporting victims and international cooperation.
The minister said that "the human trafficking surpasses national borders and mainly spurred by social and economical differences. Though deterring punishment and international cooperation are essential elements in fighting the human trafficking, tackling the root causes of the problem is extremely important".
He added that no country can alone eradicate the human trafficking; therefore, source and destination countries of such human trade require to cooperate, indicating that the UAE will cooperate with the regional and international authorities to track down the human trafficking perpetrators.
The forum hailed the initiatives of the UAE in the anti human trafficking efforts.
William Costa, executive director of UN Crime and Drug office, commended in his inaugural speech the donation of Sheikh Mohammed.
The UAE’s anti human trafficking strategy was highly received by the participants at the Vienna forum due to its clarity and followed support of Sheikh Mohammed to the UN anti human trafficking initiative.
The UAE anti-trafficking legislation was the first of its kind in the Arab World. Issued in November 2006, Federal Law No. 51 for 2006 defined trafficking in persons as one of elements of organised crime. The law dealt with all forms of the crime, including explicit servitude, sexual exploitation, child forced labour and the removal of and trade in human organs.
The 16-article law spelled out stiff penalties against traffickers ranging from one year to a life sentence in prison and financial fines of up to one million UAE dirhams (US $ 272,500) In April 2007, the Federal UAE Cabinet created the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT), in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 51.
