Seminar will focus on fighting human trafficking

The ministry of interior organises a conference on human trafficking in the country, the first activity of the newly established human rights directorate.

ABU DHABI // The country's new Human Rights Department will hold a two-day symposium here next week to address human trafficking. "This is the department's first activity to stamp out human trafficking," said Col Ahmad Al Muharami, the head of the human rights directorate for Abu Dhabi Police. "The symposium is two-fold: it will explore the nature of human trafficking and its dimensions, and explore the role of national institutions in fighting the issue."

Ministries, institutions, associations and human rights activists from inside the country will take part, as will representatives from the United Nations Development Programme. Col Muharami listed a number of measures already taken to fight human trafficking in the UAE. In 2006, a federal law was introduced calling for a minimum of five years in prison for traffickers - the first such law in the Arab world.

The country has also ratified the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and joined its protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children. "The UAE exerts a great deal of efforts to safeguard the dignity of humans and their fundamental rights," Col Muharami said. "These efforts are inspired by the religion of Islam and the state constitution."

A report issued by Abu Dhabi Police in December called for the establishment of a fund to support efforts to combat human trafficking and offer aid and compensation to victims. It also called for adding a financial penalty to imprisonment and extending confiscation to include all money, luggage or items used in the trafficking process as well as all proceeds and possessions acquired from the crime.

The Human Rights Department was founded in December under the auspices of the Interior Ministry to oversee the condition of human rights in the UAE. It is also tasked with producing regular reports according to criteria approved by the UN. The symposium, titled "Protection of Human Trafficking Victims", will be held at the Interior Ministry on Tuesday and Wednesday. [e-mail]