UN invited to examine UAE trafficking record

A Special Rapporteur from the United Nations has been invited to report on the abuse of women and children in an effort to strengthen the role of the UAE in fighting such crime.

ABU DHABI // The UAE committee to combat human trafficking has agreed to invite a United Nations investigator to report on abuse of women and children.

Dr Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs and head of the human trafficking committee, said the move is meant to strengthen the state's role in fighting such crimes.

"No doubt, the Special Rapporteur's invite comes in the context of strengthening the state's strategy to expand the scope of cooperation with international organisations involved in combating the crime of trafficking in human beings," Dr Gargash said yesterday at a committee meeting.

Although the official report for 2011 has not yet been compiled, Dr Gargash said that after consulting shelters run by the aid group Ewaa, he discovered that the number of trafficking victims had decreased in the third quarter.

The number of cases had steadily increased since 2007, when the committee was put together.

In 2010, 58 cases were recorded with 152 victims, compared with 43 cases in 2009, 20 in 2008 and 10 in 2007.

Earlier this year, Dr Gargash said the increase in cases was a sign that human trafficking was being more frequently recognised as Ministry of Interior officials received more training.

He said that since 2006 the UAE has been conscious of the "inevitable" problem due to the country's "attractive society" and economy.