This was said at the Forum to Combat Human Trafficking Crimes under National Legislation, which was organised by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Sharjah Police General Command in collaboration with the Sharjah Police Science Academy and held in the academy's theatre. The forum aims to focus light on this critical issue, highlight the efforts of national partners, and draw on the knowledge and skills of individuals working to combat human trafficking offences.
The forum was attended by Hanadi Al Yafei, Director General of the Child Safety Department in Sharjah; Brigadier General Abdulrahman Al Shaer, Director General of the General Department of Human Rights in Dubai; Colonel Dr Mohammed Khalifa Al Hammoudi, Deputy Director of the Human Rights Department and Chairman of the Human Trafficking Crimes Combat Committee at the Ministry of Interior; Legal Advisor Dr Ahmed Abdullah Al Shamsi from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation; Mahra Al Qubaisi, Director of Care Management in Abu Dhabi; and several general managers, department heads, and a large number of Sharjah Police and Sharjah Police Science Academy members, along with representatives of police leaderships and relevant human rights and anti-human trafficking organisations.
In his speech, Brigadier Omar Ahmed Abu Al-Zawd, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department of Sharjah Police, stated: "Coinciding with the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, this forum was organised to highlight the severity of this international crime that violates human dignity, and to showcase the efforts of the UAE, represented by the Ministry of Interior, police leadership, and the National Committee. The UAE is a key player in the global fight against human trafficking, having been the first country in the region to enact comprehensive legislation, Law No. 51 of 2006, to combat these crimes and prevent their development and spread, addressing them locally, regionally, and internationally in collaboration with many countries and governmental and non-governmental organisations."
The forum featured a panel discussion moderated by media professional Fahd Haikal, with Mr Hisham Mohammed Al Hammadi, Chief Prosecutor at the Sharjah Public Prosecution and member of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, discussing legislation and legal updates in the field of combating human trafficking.
Major Dr. Hawa Yousef Al Raisi, Director of the Awareness Branch at the Human Rights Department of the Ministry of Interior and a member of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, discussed efforts and obstacles in combating human trafficking offences. Major Rashid Nasser Al Ali, Head of the Child Protection Section at Dubai Police's General Department of Human Rights and a former member of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, discussed the Dubai Police's experience battling human trafficking offences and protecting victims. The event ended with a discussion on psychological rehabilitation services for human trafficking victims led by Amina Ibrahim Al Mutawa, Director of Psychological Services at the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children.
The discussion closed with recommendations for future work in this subject, delivered by First Lieutenant Dr Ahmed Saif Al Ali, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department's Strategy and Excellence Branch.
Key recommendations included expanding professional training programmes for workers at various entry points and agencies dealing with potential victims of the crime, educating high-risk groups and warning them about unverified work contracts and other fraudulent advertisements, treating victims with a rights-based approach that respects their needs without social stigma, and forming new partnerships with countries of origin or transit.
Major General Abdullah Mubarak bin Amer, along with Brigadier General Omar Ahmed Abu Al-Zawd, recognised the panel discussion speakers and expressed gratitude and appreciation to all participants for their valuable contributions to the forum's success and achievement of its objectives.
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