Dubai airport steps up as UAE cracks down on human trafficking

DUBAI // Dubai International Airport is stepping up its fight to help identify and rescue victims of human trafficking.
At the launch yesterday of an awareness campaign aimed at all travellers, Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and head of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, opened an anti-trafficking office at Terminal 3.
The Human Rights Office will be staffed by six trained officers who will aim to help victims and those who fear they might be exploited. Brochures will be available at all three terminals.
Advertisements in the airport will warn traffickers about the harsh penalties under law 51 of 2006, and will provide victims with a toll-free number to call to report crimes (800 7283).
"The advertisements are to send a message to many of the 65 million travellers: if you feel you have a job opportunity which is not very clear, if you are suspicious, call right at the point of entry," said Dr Gargash.
Dr Gargash went on: "Some people come to the UAE weak, looking for work or something, or they come tricked.
"With this campaign they will know the UAE is fighting such crimes that are against our culture, religion, and traditions."
Dr Gargash said Dubai airport was the main gateway to the UAE. "With Dubai airport hosting this campaign, now the major gateway is guarded," he said.
Brig Dr Mohammed Al Murr, director of the Human Trafficking department at Dubai Police, said victims or potential victims coming to their office at the airport would be handled with care and will not be prosecuted or face deportation.
The anti-trafficking measures are the latest in a series of measures taken by the country to shield it from such crimes.
"The UAE takes seriously the issue of human trafficking, we worked on this very difficult issue for many many years," said Dr Gargash.
Earlier this week, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed announced an Ewaa shelter for men would be set up in the capital. "Male cases are rare, but this is part of the country's efforts," said Dr Gargash.
Last month, the 2006 law was revised by the FNC and a set of unprecedented legal protections and rights were guaranteed for victims. The law is now in its final ratification stages.
"The UAE knows that by building an attractive society, it attracts all sorts of people: positive people and others who use people," said Dr Gargash. "The law is a major step in identifying this problem."
Last year, 47 cases of human trafficking were discovered and referred for prosecution.
Dr Gargash acknowledged that the number of cases found every year were just the "tip of the iceberg".
"The problem is much bigger than how many we prosecute," he said. "Some people we don't know about."
For this reason, he said, they have been working closely with the police, prosecutors, and judges, to train them on how to recognise victims.
"The UAE improved a lot in victim sensitivity," he said. "To know [for instance] this is not a prostitution issue, but a trafficking issue."
Over the past six years, only two cases involving children have come up, according to Dr Gargash.
Cases of forced labour were very rare as well, he said. The most prevalent cases were those involving sexual exploitation.
However, Dr Gargash said that prostitution cases are not automatically turned into trafficking cases. They must go through an extensive process where police officials, prosecutors, and judges are all in agreement to view them as such.
"It is extremely important to warn victims, but not to scare society," said Dr Gargash. "The crime is horrendous, to use a person's weakness and trick them."
osalem@thenational.ae