Sheikha Fatima toured the centre’s different sections and praised the levels of services offered to the victims of human trafficking.

The remarks were made during the minister?s chairing of the 17th meeting of the committee held at the Ministry of FNC Affairs? building. The committee discussed a number of issues, notably, the Red Crescent Authority?s (RCA) plan to expand the shelter centres for victims.

Gargash praised the RCA?s plan for building new shelters in line with the strategy of the committee to rehabilitate victims of human trafficking in order to incorporate them into community.

The members of the committee welcome the visit, which will be paid to the UAE by representatives of Human Rights Centre in Morocco. They also examined the Memorandum of Understanding with Kingdom of Thailand over cooperation on anti human trafficking through coordination and swap of expertise and information. The members of the committee were also briefed on the resolutions of Vienna Immigration Group discussions, held in June 8, in Vienna, on expatriate minors in EU countries.

The UAE minister stressed importance of the initiative launched by Dubai Prosecution to set up permanent team work to look into human trafficking issues, a move he described could curb challenges facing the anti human trafficking efforts.

 The country issued law no. 51 for 2006 on combating human trafficking crimes, established the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT) and formulated an integral national anti-trafficking strategy,” she said.
For his part, Al Qubaisi expressed his company’s appreciation to the Ewaa shelters? role in providing best services to the victims.

“SEHA will spare no effort in providing medical services to the victims at the shelter in its facilities, including the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, the Corniche Hospital, and Bain Al Jisrain Clinic.”

This comes under the instructions of President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and General H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Sheikh Hamdan expressed his thanks to Lt. General H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior for his support and initiatives for the provision of shelters and ministry’s cooperation through organising workshops and exhibitions allocating places for shelters and its active role in the protection of victims of human trafficking.

He also pointed out efforts done by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union of UAE and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation to combat violence against women, patronising shelters and enacting necessary legislation, in addition to donating a piece of land for the construction and building of the shelter and a centre affiliated to it.

This came during Sheikh Hamdan’s meeting with Chairperson, members of the Board of Directors and staff in the shelters of human trafficking victims.

On her part, Sanaa Darwish Al Kitbi, Advisor of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Shelters said that shelters for women and children victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse have been established in the UAE with decree by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed to help victims overcome their miseries safely and in honourable way.

She pointed out that the shelter for women and children victims of human trafficking in Abu Dhabi was opened in February 26th, 2008 and it is a non-profit entity working under the UAE RCA.

It should be mentioned that the number of victims that have been received by the shelter has reached 94 of various nationalities and they have stayed in the shelter during one month to six months period.

Two other shelters were opened in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah with a decree by Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed and they are working in coordination with the shelters in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

At the conclusion of the meeting Sheikh Hamdan was presented a souvenir. ƒ?? Emirates News Agency

The court cited in its verdict that M.A.M., 51, and A.M., 40, had exploited the vulnerability of a victim who fled from her a sponsor, but had no shelter.

She fell into the hands of the accused, who sold her to another person and coerced her subsequently into prostitution.

Earlier, the public prosecution in Abu Dhabi brought the case before the Abu Dhabi Criminal Court, following their confessions to the charges in police and public prosecution investigations.

M.A.M. confessed before the public prosecution that he contacted his friend, the second defendant, to provide girls in return for money.

The second defendant carried out the task when he took the victim from Dubai to Al Ain and handed her over to M.A.M.

They accompanied the victim to Abu Dhabi, where they met another person at a public park. They sold the girl to him. The second defendant confirmed the confessions of his co-accused.

On her part, the victim confessed that she had been sold several times in Dubai until she reached the first and second accused.

She also confessed to having fled from her sponsor to look for a better job, but fell into the hands of people who sold her and coerced her into prostitution in Dubai.

According to police, the first accused had indulged in trafficking in housemaids.

Based on a tipoff, the police mounted a sting operation following which the suspect was arrested.

The committee discussed the report at the committee?s 14th meeting in Dubai recently chaired by Dr Anwar Gargash, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Committee.

Gargash said the US report lacks accuracy and objectivity as it failed to evaluate the efforts exerted by the UAE in combating human trafficking last year.

He said the report was biased and does not rely on accurate studies or on facts on-ground as it does not reflect reality of the progress achieved.

The Committee reviewed the recommendations by the human trafficking conference organised by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) on protecting human trafficking victims and praised the efforts of the ministry.

The conference issued several recommendations that are being studied to set a follow up mechanism. He said that these efforts are in line with national strategy to combat human trafficking and aimed at strengthening coordination with various concerned parties in the UAE.

The meeting also discussed the media campaign being rolled out to spread awareness on human trafficking crimes. The Committee decided to launch the campaign in the fall of 2009 at all major airports and embassies in the UAE.

The Committee discussed collecting and organising data related to human trafficking, as well as the studies that can help combat this dangerous crime.

The committee listened to a detailed presentation on the initiative by Belarus in the UN to combat human trafficking, and reviewed reports presented by concerned parties in the UAE.?news@khaleejtimes.com

The delegation included Sara Shahail, director of shelter homes for women and children, and Maitha Ghanim Al Mazroui, chief coordinator of the shelter homes.

The UN office arranged a busy schedule for the delegates, who familiarised themselves with various UN activities to combat human trafficking and help its victims. The delegation also toured care centres set up in Austria.

The delegation shared the UAE’s experience in giving safe shelter, healthcare and social and psychological support to woman and children who were victims of human trafficking.

Discussions were held with UN officials to enhance cooperation between the UAE and the UN to counter the transnational crime of human trafficking. Last year, the Abu Dhabi Government made a contribution of Dh8 million to set up a centre for victims of human trafficking in the emirate.

The move was in line with the directives of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces

The two parties explored reinforcing cooperation and partnership in this regard and the launch of joint projects to combat this type of crimes. They agreed that all measures must be taken to protect the dignity and freedom of human beings from slavery and sexual abuse.
The two parties thanked H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and Chairperson of the UAE General Women?s Union, for her donation to construct a larger centre for Ewa?a to provide inmates wth better services. 

Discussions focused on cooperation and coordination among the two parties and possibilities of benefiting from the UN regional offices experience to reinforce Ewa?a centres services and develop its programs.

Mr. Abdul Azeez visited Ewa?a afterward and was received by Ms. Sara Shaheel, Ewa?s Executive Manager. He reviewed its facilities operations and services provided to inmates.

Al Ibri said: ?This meeting is in line with the directive of HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, to enhance interaction between the department and its key stakeholders?.

H.E Al Ibri emphasized the importance of putting more efforts at the public and private levels to create radical solutions to eradicate human trafficking, which is a global menace that stands in the way of equal rights and progress of women and children.

Al Ibri praised the close cooperation between Public Prosecution and Ewaa Centers in Abu Dhabi and the joint efforts in providing security to children and women.