During a visit paid to Ewa’a Shelter in Abu Dhabi in tandem with a delegation from the United Kingdom Embassy to the UAE, in the presence of Mr. Mansour Al-Jowaed, the Head of the National Committees Department at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) and Rapporteur for National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT), Lord Ahmad strived to take cognizance of the activities of the shelter, and to learn about the great efforts that are being exerted to serve the victims as well as the rehabilitation programs introduced to them.

Sara Shuhail, Director General of Ewa’a Shelters, highly appreciated the visit of Lord Tariq Ahmad. She rendered an explanation for the establishment of the shelters as well as the vision and mission thereof, how to receive victims, the rehabilitation programs and the memoranda of understanding concluded with the stakeholders in this regard. The victims are to be granted attested certificates that help them find job opportunities when they return voluntarily to their homelands or alternative countries.

Shuhail dwelled upon the financial aids provided to the victims from the shelters and the Victim Support Fund of the NCCHT, so that the victims can implement small enterprises for a better future. There was further a presentation for the awareness-raising programs of the NCCHT at some airports, along with familiarization with the memoranda of understanding concluded by the UAE with some countries in this respect.

Lord Tariq Ahmad, who is visiting the UAE to participate in the World Summit for Tolerance in Dubai, is the UK Prime Minister’s representative in the field of combating sexual violence in conflict situations. His functional duties include human rights, freedoms of religions and beliefs as well as modern slavery. He was earlier appointed as the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.