UAE Participates in UN Working Group Meeting on Combating Human Trafficking in Vienna
Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: The United Arab Emirates participated in the 15th meeting of the Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, convened under the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) in Vienna.
The UAE delegation was led by Judge Abdul Rahman Murad Al Blooshi, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, and comprised representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and the Federal Public Prosecution.
The meeting reviewed progress in the implementation of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, focusing on evidentiary issues in human trafficking cases. Discussions also covered the challenges of collecting victim testimony-based evidence and difficulties associated with gathering physical and digital evidence.
In his remarks, Judge Al Blooshi underscored the UAE’s national efforts to address the evolving nature of trafficking crimes amid growing digitalisation. He highlighted recent legislative reforms that grant digital evidence the same legal standing as physical evidence, thereby strengthening the capacity to prosecute such crimes effectively.
He further noted the introduction of the UAE’s national smart system for referring trafficking victims, which leverages artificial intelligence to streamline the referral process, enhance coordination among national authorities, and ensure comprehensive protection, care, and rehabilitation services for victims.
The UAE’s participation reaffirms its commitment to international cooperation in combating human trafficking and advancing global justice and human rights initiatives.
