The UAE courts saw 36 suspects tried in 20 cases of human trafficking last year, according to the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT).
"In 2007, we had 10 cases tried for human trafficking based on Law 51. There were five convictions, with sentences of between 3 to 10 years' imprisonment, for aiding and inciting human trafficking," said Dr Saeed Mohammad Al Ghafli, Executive Director of the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs and Secretary of NCCHT.
Al Ghafli announced the statistics at a symposium on human trafficking held at the Training and Judicial Studies Centre at Sharjah University City.
"The 20 cases in 2008 affected 30 victims. It has been the committee's highest priority to ensure the safety and proper care of the victims of human trafficking.
"There have been a few occasions in the past where we have asked about the status of the victims and were informed that they have been jailed - this is unacceptable," Al Ghafli said.
"Shelters for such victims have been set up around the country. Also, when repatriating victims the committee strives to ensure that the shelters and care centres coordinate with the concerned centres in the victim's home country to ensure that they are cared for even after leaving the UAE."
He went on to stress that although the issue of camel jockeys always comes up when talking about human trafficking, "the issue has been resolved years ago". "The UAE does not allow children to be used as camel jockeys anymore. In 2007, the UAE was upgraded to the Tier 2 Watch List [US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report]; which is the best of any country in the GCC," Al Ghafli said.
One of the attendees suggested that witness protection would give people an incentive to come forward in case of abuse.
"I'm not aware whether or not we have a witness protection programme in place, but it is an excellent suggestion that I will take up with the committee," Al Ghafli responded.
Legislation: Federal Law 51
Article 1 Human trafficking: Recruiting, transporting, moving or receiving persons by means of threat or use of force or by any other means of coercion, kidnap, fraud, deceit, abuse of power, exploiting a condition of weakness, offering or receiving money or advantages to secure consent of a person who is in control of another person, for the purpose of exploitation.
Exploitation includes all forms of sexual abuse, involuntary servitude, mistreatment, coercion and abuse of work force, as well as illegal trading in human organs.
Article 2 Any person who commits any of the human trafficking crimes provided for in Article 1 herein shall be punished by temporary imprisonment for a term of not less than five years.
Penalty shall be life imprisonment if: " The perpetrator of the crime has initiated, formed, organised, run or led an organised criminal gang or enticed others to join it. "
The victim is a woman or a handicapped child. " The perpetrator has committed an act by fraud, accompanied by use of force, threat to kill, to inflict grave harm or to use physical or mental torture. "
The act is committed by two or more persons or by an armed person. " The perpetrator is a member of an organised gang or has knowingly taken part in its acts after being aware of its purposes. "
The perpetrator is the spouse, parent offspring or guardian of the victim or had control over the act. " The perpetrator is a civil servant or is commissioned with a public office. " The crime has a transnational nature.
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