The campaign also clarified the legal aspects, including the harsh punishments, related to the crime against humanity.
 

?The co-ordination between national bodies in the UAE contributed significantly to the success of the campaign. The location for the campaign, the Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest in the world, ensured the campaign message reached a large number of residents and visitors to the United Arab Emirates,? said HE Dr. Anwar Gargash.

 
?The UAE is committed to carry out its responsibilities toward the international community by reducing the risk of human trafficking. Our efforts are supported by international organizations. We focus on the adoption of best international practices, and ensure their application based on five strategic pillars: prevention, prosecution, punishment, protection and promotion (of international cooperation),? added HE Dr. Anwar Gargash.

 
During the event held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dubai, HE Dr. Gargash honored the Interior Ministry, General Headquarters of Dubai Police, Dubai Airports and the team of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking.

 
National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking has organized awareness campaigns at Abu Dhabi and Al Ain international airports in earlier years, aimed at raising awareness about this crime among residents and visitors and definite tools in order to address human trafficking in the UAE.

Marilyn Mornington is District Judge as well as a lecturer and writer on Family Law and in particular, domestic violence and elder abuse. Both nationally and internationally, she has worked on multiple publications in these areas.

For 10 to 12 years before converting to Islam, Mornington address issues related to domestic violence, especially in children and women, and in some cases occurred among the Muslim community. Khsusu to Muslims, in order to understand the problem better, Mornington lot of reading about Islam and Muslims mingle.

Sheikha Fatima highlighted in her speech the efforts made by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to formulate strategies for combating human trafficking and for maintaining a society free of any form of violence.

The event were organized to raise the public awareness of human trafficking crimes, which is named as ?21^st Century Sin?, and aimed to support the efforts to prevent such crimes and to  enhance the public awareness of combatting them.

The ceremony were attended by Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin mohammed Al Nahyan, and society prominent women like  the ambassadors? wives in Abu Dhabi. The ceremony programme includes a ballet dancing and the emirati opera star Sara Al Qaiwani.

At the charity gathering, a male shelters to be opened in UAE at the beginning of the 2014 has been announced, and a speech in the name of H.H Sheikh Fatima bint Mubarak has been delivered by the Director General of Ewa?a Shelters, Sara Shuhail.

In the speech, H.H Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak stressed: ?we are very much concern about the catastrophic and harsh circumstances that women and children who live in unstable countries and vernal regions. Such concerns are not only about women and children but also about males who become victims as well. On many occasions, I urged and strongly reminded of the danger of theses accelerated challenges that face the victims of human trafficking, moreover, I stressed strongly to complement all international and regional humanitarian efforts to improve the humanitarian circumstances and providing them with the needed protection?.

?I do appreciate the distinguished efforts of our country under our wise leadership and ambitious vision which was adopted by the Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God bless his soul;  The humanitarian vision  were preserved, cherished  and implemented by our President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan?.

At her end, Sara Shuhail, Ewa?a Director General, said: ? with all joined  and complemented efforts  achieved  in cooperation with all strategic partners, volunteers, and all related bodies, Ewa?a Shelters  has become capable and highly qualified to present highest level of services to care and qualify the victims, such services are done with best international practices  and standards, which leads to amazing results to ensure the quality of service and the habilitation speed of victim,  and finally, returning them to their homeland, alternative destination, or giving them the opportunity to stay and work.  We do respect their personal interest and choices as long as this would assure their humanitarian dignity and protect our social national security.

IAWP President Jane Townsley stressed the importance of reinforcing relations, and exchanging expertise and information between both parties in this field.

The meeting was attended by Colonel Mohammed Ali Al Shehhi, Head of the Local Coordination Division at the MoI’s Human Rights Department; Captain Amina Mohammed Khamis Al Bloushi, Chairwoman of the UAE Women Police Association; and a number of officers from the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Interior.

?Dealing with Human Trafficking victims at the Shelters matches the International standards and best practices taking into consideration the humanitarian aspects? she added.

The Arab Human Rights Committee praised the successful experience as the committee and the whole world acknowledge such distinguished experience led by Ewa?a.

The committee members has promised to transfer such successful experience practiced in United Arab Emirates to their countries. The committee stressed to enhance the mutual cooperation, regular awareness of the shelters? activities and all reports were requested.

Developing Teams

Al Ali indicated that the Ministry of Interior has adopted a new approach based on scientific and systematic foundations to develop its human and financial resources, in a bid to keep abreast of the overall  progress witnessed by the country in various areas. In alignment with the adopted strategies, the Leadership Development and Creativity Center was established. The center stands as an independent unit that functions as a specialized department to develop leadership and creativity; it comprises five main sections, established according to the most advanced international regulations and practices.

Major Al Ali indicated that the Future Leaders Program is designed to prepare and qualify executive leaders at the Ministry of Interior. This aims to achieve the ministry?s strategic objectives, notably, identifying employees with special leadership skills, developing skilled leaders, promoting a culture of performance and overcoming high-level challenges.

With respect to competency assessment and its importance to develop and improve work quality, Al Ali said: ?The Competency Assessment Section at the Ministry of Interior has been established as per the latest international practices. It provides occupational psychological assessment for personnel for the purposes of training and development.

Human Trafficking

Mayssa Ghanem Al Mazroui, Head of Corporate Communications at the Ewa?a Shelters for Women and Children which provides shelter for women and children who are victims of human trafficking revealed that Ewa?a is contemplating a plan to establish training centers in the field of sheltering and rehabilitation for victims of human trafficking on the local, regional and international levels. She added: ?According to international reports, the centers are operating according to high-level standards, and are consequently sought as a role model for many countries.?

In her work paper submitted on Tuesday as part of the 2nd Regional Conference of Women Police, Al Mazroui mentioned that Ewa?a has three shelters across the Emirates of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras El Khaimah. The Abu Dhabi shelter can accommodate about 60 victims whereas the Sharjah and Ras El Khaimah shelters can accommodate up to 35 persons respectively.  She added that the number of victims sheltered since 2009 accounts for approximately 200 persons, and that the average age of victims is 18-45 years in addition to children. ?Victims coming to the centre stay from one to six months before they are repatriated; they are usually referred to us by the police, hospitals, the Red Crescent centers, and places of worship.  Some come through our hotline as well,? she noted.

Al Mazroui reiterated the UAE?s commitment to combat human trafficking crimes through a comprehensive strategy established for this end, and by implementing the necessary procedures and policies that promote legal and ethical standards. The UAE was the first Arab country to issue the Federal Law No. 51 of 2006 to combat human trafficking crimes. Furthermore, the Ewa?a Shelters for Women and Children victims of human trafficking was established in 2008. ?The shelters provide safe refuge to victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, as well as rehabilitation and integration programs. The shelters are non-profitable establishments working under the auspices of the UAE Red Crescent,? Al Mazroui continued.

She added that the shelters have strategic objectives to provide human and financial resources to extend psychological, social, legal, medical, educational and professional help and assistance.  These objectives also include organizing awareness programs and vocational courses; assisting victims to restore self-confidence and preparing them to face life again; adopting legal procedures to repatriate victims; and taking part in all issues related to human trafficking crimes.

Standards

Al Mazroui explained the standards for dealing with human trafficking victims. In terms of security and safety, the Ministry of Interior has an alert system linked to its Operations Center in anticipation of any potential unexpected risks. It had also installed high quality CCTV cameras in coordination with the police, maintained the secrecy of the shelters? locations, handled victims? cases with high confidentiality, kept victims? belongings to be returned upon departure, investigating with victims at the shelters by police officers dressed in civilian clothes; and activating the hotline service to ensure a quicker access to victims.

Moreover, Al Mazroui pointed out that victims are sorted and classified to ensure that they are truly human trafficking victims and not a part of a human smuggling ring, illegal migrants, or even human traffickers who may put other victims and female employees to risk. Mayssa Al Mazroui noted that sorting and identifying victims begins by examining the circumstances of each case, according to assessment indicators and the six-stage victims? sorting questionnaire approved by the shelters.

Commenting on the basic principles of caring, rehabilitating and integrating victims, she said: ?Based on the relevant Human Rights principles and Palermo Protocol, the shelters seek to provide full support and protection for victims of this phenomenon.? She explained the procedures followed by the Ewa?a Shelters to received Women and Children victims of human trafficking.  ?Victims are registered upon arrival and introduced to the center and its facilities. In the shelters, victims are offered psychological, social, legal, medical care, as well as educational and vocational training, plus a ticket and a financial aid to return home.

Cindy Shain, the Associate Director of the Southern Police Institute of Louisville University in America explored the various methods to empower women police officers. She also presented some experiences to bolster women?s work within the police force in developed countries.   

For his part, Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Al Shamesi, a researcher on human rights and rights of the disabled=”disabled” at the Department of Welfare and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities at the Ministry of Social Affairs gave a speech at the conference. He tackled the efforts exerted by the United Arab Emirates in providing care for people with disabilities in general, women with disabilities in particular. He pointed out that the state has ratified the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities in 2010, as a complement to the countless achievements it has made for the benefit of this society segment.

He added that the Ministry of Social Affairs, in coordination with the concerned authorities, has been working closely with people with disabilities and their families to acquaint them with their rights, as set forth by the law enacted for this category. He also discussed the role of civil society institutions and shed light on how community members deal with people with disabilities.

Concluding, Dr. Emad Eddien Hussein, EFQM Licensed trainer and key adviser, gave an overview of the ?Empowerment and Development of Women Police? according to the European Excellence Model.

The Head of the UAE delegation presented a worksheet about the UAE?s efforts to combat human trafficking. The delegation participated in the educational exhibition about human trafficking crimes through the distribution of publications, brochures, and books specialized in the field.

The delegation also participated in the specialized course that was specifically held for it on the sidelines of the congress. During this course, the delegation received information and was acquainted with skills by international specialists in combatting organized and human trafficking crimes.

Shuhail advised victims of human trafficking who may be staying illegally in the country or who have become involved in other crimes not to fear contacting the centres so they can get help.

The centre in Abu Dhabi, and two other branches in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, were established in 2008 within the framework of the UAE?s efforts to combat human trafficking.

The Executive Director mentioned that a new shelter for male human trafficking victims will open in the capital next year.

He said this last week during a meeting held by the Committee at the headquarters of the Ministry of State for FNC Affairs in Abu Dhabi to discuss the final preparations for establishing a fund for supporting victims of human trafficking ?as well as revising a draft decision on the establishment of the fund.?

He added, ?This meeting has been held to develop plans for the future, which will be submitted to the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking about regulations of the Victim Support Fund.?
In attendance were officials from the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, the Department of Human Rights in the Ministry of Interior, Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution and Eewa?a Centres.

The country?s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website states, ?The most severe test for the country?s human rights record? in recent years ?has come from problems associated with labour issues, specifically human trafficking.?
The website cites ?temporary contractual workers who are deceived by labour recruiters and become victims of human trafficking.?

The committee?s report gave startling findings. ?More than half the women interviewed for the report believed they were coming to the UAE to work as housemaids, while 11 per cent thought they would work in sales and eight per cent believed they were being invited as tourists. However, six per cent admitted they knew they were entering the UAE for prostitution.?

According to the MoFA, ?The deceit begins before the workers leave their home countries, hence the importance of partnering with source and transit countries. In order to institutionalise the fight against human trafficking the government has devised a four-pillar strategy ? legislation, enforcement, victim support, and bilateral agreements and international cooperation.?