The National Committee To Combat Human Trafficking held its 39th meeting, chaired by Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Committee, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Dubai.

The committee reviewed the latest human rights developments in the country, including Federal Law No.15 for 2017, issued by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on supporting services support workers to further protect their rights.

During the meeting, Dr. Gargash welcomed the inauguration of the Aman Centre for Women and Children in Ras al-Khaimah while stressing the importance of strengthening social support networks and sheltering those affected by human trafficking and the victims of domestic violence.

The committee also discussed the launch and signing of several Memoranda of Understanding between the UAE and a number of countries, to help combat human trafficking.

Dr. Gargash welcomed requests from several private sector institutions to strengthen their co-operation with the committee while highlighting the key role of the private sector in supporting the related efforts of the government.

The committee listened to suggestions from several attendees on holding workshops, in co-operation with concerned national parties, to combat human trafficking, and to launch a state-level promotional campaign to support its strategy.

The committee was also briefed on the progress of the team assigned to combat human trafficking during the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, in Vienna last September. The committee was then briefed about a drafted questionnaire, to review the implementation of human trafficking protocols.

At the end of the meeting, Dr. Gargash commended the efforts of government members and institutions to combat human trafficking crimes while praising the UAE’s distinguished position as a leading role model in countering human trafficking, which stems from its absolute belief in the importance of co-operation and the concerted efforts of the international judiciary, to eliminate this scourge.