The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking Crimes, Dr. Anwar bin Muhammad Gargash, revealed that law enforcement agencies and public prosecution offices in the country managed to address 23 cases of human trafficking during 2019, through which they contributed to referring 67 accused of the judiciary and assisting 41 victims of victims Human trafficking, registering a decrease from 2018, as the number of cases reached 30, and in some of these cases the penalties reached life imprisonment and deportation from the state, while some are still in circulation in the courts.
Gargash stressed during the launch of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking in its Annual Report for 2019, the continuation of the efforts of the committee in light of the current circumstances related to the implications of the spread of the emerging corona virus (Covid-19), and the determination of the concerned authorities to provide support to victims of human trafficking to protect them and alleviate their suffering as a result of trafficking Them.
He pointed out that the relevant authorities in the state have made unremitting efforts to implement awareness programs for all groups of society in general, and for potential victims in particular, taking into account the cultural diversity and the different nationalities living in the state, and accordingly those campaigns were launched in a number of major languages, benefiting 1,436,971 people. Especially from the category of employment and auxiliary employment, where the concerned authorities, including the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, paid great attention to educating this important group of society about the rights guaranteed by the national legislation in the state, to sensitize them through the centers affiliated with them as a condition for issuing residencies to Work in the state.
He emphasized that among the priorities of the National Committee is also the preparation of a qualified elite of cadres working in various authorities in the state, by offering many training programs for specialists to acquire the skills and scientific and practical experiences necessary to enable them to deal with all kinds of human trafficking cases, and to ensure the protection of victims, in 2019 6,209 specialists, including those working in the country's outlets, were trained in programs related to detecting forgery and identifying victims of human trafficking, to contribute to the implementation of the country's obligations in its national legislation and international agreements that it has ratified in this regard.
He pointed out that the committee highlights the implementation of a diploma in combating human trafficking in its fifth session in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which is the first specialized professional program of its kind at the Arab and regional level that deals with scientific and exclusive treatment of a specific crime from criminal crimes, as it is For the first time, this program is implemented with the participation of a number of associates from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, which contributes to the exchange of experiences that are an opportunity to enhance joint work with each other.
He stressed that the state has a wide range of policies and practices that enable it to combat human trafficking firmly and effectively through the promotion of partnerships, pointing to the state's commitment to work at the national and international levels to combat this crime of human dignity, and to free its victims from the restrictions of exploitation.
He pointed out that the National Committee sought to sign seven bilateral memoranda of understanding in the field of cooperation in combating human trafficking crimes and protecting its victims, the last of which was with the Philippines, in addition to bilateral meetings to activate memoranda of understanding with the Republic of India, Indonesia and the Kingdom of Thailand, which contributed to defining frameworks and areas of cooperation from During the exchange of information and experiences between the two parties.
Financial aid
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, Dr. Anwar bin Muhammad Gargash, stated that during the past year the committee was able to disburse financial aid in the amount of 207 thousand and 500 dirhams from the fund to support victims of trafficking in human beings.
He pointed out that the fund is considered one of the most important initiatives of the National Committee, which aims to support victims in small projects, or complete education, and other programs that contribute to ensuring access to employment, and thus their financial independence, as destitution is one of the reasons leading to the exploitation of victims in trafficking cases Humans, and thus the National Committee has been able to provide about 970 thousand and 200 dirhams of total aid since the initiative was launched in 2014.