Combating Human Trafficking in the UAE

Federal Law 51 (2006) Treats human trafficking as part of organized crime Criminal prosecution for offenders Penalties range from six months to life in prison Financial fines from about 100,000 to one million dirhams

National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking NCCHT established in 2007. Supports and implements Federal Law 51 Acts as a coordinating body at federal and local levels Committee first had 12 members – now increased to 20 Members from various ministries, police, judiciary and NGOs

Cases/Traffickers/Victims (2013) Emirate Cases Traffickers Victims ABU DHABI 3 9 5 DUBAI 8 26 10 SHARJAH 6 11 7 AJMAN 2 4 TOTAL 19 50 24

Case history

Convictions (2007-2013)

National Strategy ‘Five Ps’ strategy – shift from four-pillar strategy Prevention Prosecution Punishment Protection Promotion (of international cooperation)

PUBLIC AWARENESS

PUBLIC AWARENESS

Victim protection Five holistic shelters for victims Dubai Foundation for Women and Children – established in 2007 Under the umbrella of the UAE Red Crescent Authority, Ewa’a – Shelter for Women and Children, Abu Dhabi, opened in 2008 Two more shelters opened in Sharjah & Ras Al Khaimah in 2010 Male shelter opened in January 2013 to help prospective victims

PROMOTION (of international cooperation) May 2007 – ratified the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (2000) Ratified the United Nations Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children (Palermo Protocol) Signed agreements with several labour-exporting countries to regulate the flow of workforce Part of the 20-member Group of Friends United Against Human Trafficking 2013 – formal member of the Bali Process and its Ad Hoc Group to address human trafficking

PROMOTION (of international cooperation) Donated $15 million to support the UN.GIFT Signed the Declaration on the Global Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons in New York 2011 Collaboration with the International Training Centre of the Republic of Belarus Cooperation with IOM, ILO and UNODC Part of Arab strategy to build national capacity to combat human trafficking UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, visiting UAE

Dissemination of information Annual report evolution   2008 report 50 pages 2013-2014 report 115 pages www.nccht.gov.ae

Challenges Majority of UAE’s workforce is made up of foreigners Better coordination between worker-sending and worker receiving countries Labour versus sexual exploitation Responsibility of private sector Private-public sector cooperation

Conclusion The UAE admits existence of the problem in the country, like many others in the world Government is committed to cooperating with the international community to check human trafficking Action plan to counter human trafficking has yielded results Realizes it needs to do more, and is keen to intensify its efforts.

Thank You