Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - United Arab Emirates (Ratification: 1982)

Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons. 1. Strengthening the legal framework and law enforcement. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to supply a copy of the amendment of Federal Act No. 51 of 2006 on human trafficking, once adopted.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the amendment to the Federal Act No. 51 of 2006 on human trafficking is still under consideration and will be sent as soon as it is adopted. It also notes that according to the annual statistics prepared by the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCHT), in 2012, 47 lawsuits were registered for trafficking involving 149 persons who were convicted and sentenced to penalties of imprisonment and fines.

The Committee notes the additional information provided by the Government on the measures taken by the NCCHT in 2013. Among these measures, the Committee notes that the NCCHT, in collaboration with the ILO, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Regional Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights in the Middle East, and representatives of relevant bodies responsible for law enforcement, met at a regional symposium in January 2013, entitled “Combating human trafficking from a labour market perspective”. The aim of this symposium was to identify the dimensions of the crime of human trafficking, learn the best practices in combating this phenomenon and offering protection to victims, to review the efforts of the United Arab Emirates in this area, and to predict the perspectives for collaboration among the social partners in the fight against trafficking. The NCCHT, in collaboration with the Dubai police and the Dubai Airport Corporation, also launched an awareness-raising campaign in order to inform the public of the hazards of human trafficking crimes at Dubai airport, which is targeting a large segment of residents and visitors to the United Arab Emirates. Moreover, the Committee notes the Government’s information pertaining to the measures taken at the level of international cooperation, including the joining by the United Arab Emirates to the “Bali system” in April 2013, which is a cooperation agreement between Asian countries established with the aim of exchanging expertise, mechanisms and examples of good practice in order to combat human trafficking.

The Committee strongly encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to prevent, suppress and combat trafficking in persons. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure the adoption of the amendment to Federal Act No. 51 of 2006 on human trafficking without delay, as well as to ensure that perpetrators of human trafficking are punished and prosecuted with adequate penal sanctions as required by Article 25 of the Convention. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the number of infringements reported, convictions and penal sanctions applied for violations of Federal Act No. 51 of 2006 on human trafficking.

2. Protection and assistance for victims of trafficking. The Committee previously noted the Government’s indication that the main functions of the sheltering centre, set up to welcome and care for female and child victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation are rescue, care and rehabilitation.

The Committee notes the Government’s information submitted under the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182), that a new shelter centre for victims of trafficking for male adults was set up in July 2013. As the first centre of its kind, it aims to provide protection and health, legal, and rehabilitation services to male victims of trafficking and forced labour. It further notes that on 7 October 2013, the NCCHT adopted a decision which established a fund for the support of human trafficking victims, as well to assist them by providing them with financial support to facilitate their lives and compensate them for the damage inflicted upon them. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that in 2012, there were 75 victims of trafficking. However, the Committee notes an absence of information on the concrete measures taken to provide protection and assistance to these victims of trafficking.

The Committee requests the Government to strengthen its efforts to ensure that appropriate protection and assistance is provided to all victims of trafficking, male and female. It also requests the Government to provide information on the number of victims of trafficking who have benefited from financial assistance through the fund for the support of human trafficking victims.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.