Abu Dhabi: Law enforcement agencies in the UAE pursue human trafficking cases vigorously, a top official told the Federal National Council (FNC) on Tuesday.
Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said authorities pursued 18 human trafficking cases last year, in which 36 suspects and 30 victims were involved.
"In 2007, 10 such cases were pursued, which shows how serious the country is in combating this international menace. The UAE has also donated around Dh55 million to the United Nation as Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT)," he said.
Dr Gargash, also chairman of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT), reiterated the need for cooperation between law enforcement agencies and local shelters in and outside the country and to view potential trafficking crimes within the framework of Law 51.
"It is important to try to look at each case carefully to see whether there is any suspicion of trafficking," he said.
Law 51 allows life imprisonment and fines of up to Dh1 million for people traffickers.
Introduced in 2006, it covers a range of trafficking-related crimes, including enslavement, sexual exploitation, child labour and the trade of human organs, and was the first such legislation in the region.
Gargash was responding to a question raised by Ahmad Shabib Al Daheri, first deputy speaker of the FNC.
The UN's first review of human rights in the UAE was completed in March. Known as the Universal Periodic Review, the process assesses each UN member state every four years.
Several recommendations that came from the review including some related to labour rights.
The UAE and ILO are developing a Decent Work Country Programme, which will address fundamental rights at work, including better protection of migrant workers," said Roger Plant, head of the ILO's special action programme to combat forced labour, and one of the seminar's panellists.
