DUBAI, 24 September 2007 — The UAE National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking held its fourth meeting yesterday at the Presidential Court in Abu Dhabi in order to review its progress and discuss proposed initiatives. The committee reviewed the outcome of the workshop held earlier this month to train police officers and public prosecutors to identify and deal more effectively with human trafficking violations. The workshop was organized jointly with the Ministry of Interior.

The committee outlined a schedule of additional workshops over the next six months for law enforcement and relevant government officials that will also include articulating standards for victim treatment.

Committee members discussed several initiatives to raise public awareness and provide help to victims, mainly pushing forward a proposal to the concerned authorities for a hotline and e-mail address for receiving complaints and information from the public on human trafficking in the UAE.

“We are working together closely to put a comprehensive system in place to fight these inhumane acts. Official training and public awareness will play a major part as the committee focuses on educating the public and law enforcement officers who work to fight this crime. It is important that people understand the legal implications and serious consequences for anyone who perpetrates or colludes in crimes of this nature,” said Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, minister of state for Federal National Council affairs and chairman of the committee.

The committee also discussed participation in international forums that focus on the issue so as to increase the role of the UAE in aiding international efforts against the problem. “All the members of the committee share a commitment to promoting the UAE’s status as one of the most active countries in fighting these international organized crimes,” Gargash said.

The committee reviewed reports from ministries and authorities on incidents of human trafficking in the UAE. It also discussed a UNICEF report on camel jockeys and the fruitful cooperation with UNICEF in repatriating them.

The UAE National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking was established under federal law in 2006 in a first-of-its-kind move in the Arab world.