Sara Shuhail, the Director General spoke to Al Itthad newspaper about the event: ?By the ?Silent Voices III?, we had solid creative ways through which the victims themselves get an efficient therapy, so we considered the exhibition as one of our interactive tools that enhance the shelters? rehabilitation programme. We can see the impact of the activity by the true deep expressions, messages and dreams in their paintings. 

“Technically, we were surprised by their potentials and skills reflected on drawing papers and their amazing works supervised and led by the artist Jen Simon. Such creative works, builds solid bridge to understand the victims issues better and deeply, hence, we are able to enable them to be stronger to overcome and control the sequences of their harsh and cruel past. They were proud of themselves when their paintings were bought by visitors, this enhances their confidence, and therefore we consider this important event as one of main enablers that we?ll keep developing?. She said.

?The exhibition gives the world an  indicator of the state efforts and leadership vision on not only protecting the society from this global crime, but also the genuine humanitarian actions to protect, medicate and support  the victims. The exhibition represents our message internationally that UAE is a successful model  of combating  human trafficking? She added.

About the other advantages of the exhibition, H.E Sara Shuhail spoke:? the exhibition played a very active role to raise the awareness about human trafficking and the suffering of victims.  The process of awareness was very influential as it comes through art?.

What is Human Trafficking?

UAE Federal Law No. 51 of 2006 defines human trafficking as: ?the recruitment, transportation or receipt of persons by means of threat, force, coercion, kidnap, fraud, deceit, abuse of power, the offer of money or inducements to secure the consent of a person who is in control of another person, for the purpose of exploitation. This covers all forms of sexual abuse, involuntary servitude, mistreatment, coercion and work force abuse, as well as the illegal trading of human organs”.

 
The human trafficking phenomenon is considered modern-day slavery. According to the United Nations statistics report more than 2.4 million victims in the hands of human traffickers worldwide, mostly women and children. This inhuman phenomenon is growing rapidly and it has been described by experts as the world?s third-largest criminal activity after drug and arms trafficking.

Although there are a lot of global programmes and initiatives aimed at combating human trafficking, including the Athens Ethical Principles and the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking, human trafficking networks are still violating the rights of the vulnerable worldwide, which demands greater co-ordination and joint action between nations.